The poo problem we don’t talk about enough
I’ve spent much of my life outdoors with my dogs. From coastal walks in Cornwall to snowy hikes in the Highlands, one thing has remained a constant: the need to pick up after them. It’s not the most glamorous part of being a dog dad, but it’s essential – not just for public courtesy, but for the planet too.
Like many dog owners, I tend to reach for whatever poo bags are at hand. But recently I became curious about the true impact of these bags on our planet.
Convenience often comes at a cost – and not just to our environment, but to our values as responsible pet parents. As pet parents, I think we should always be asking ourselves – is there more we can do?
The hidden impact of dog waste
Dog waste isn’t just an eyesore; it’s a genuine environmental hazard. When left unmanaged, it can contaminate waterways, harm wildlife, and spread disease. So we bag it and bin it – and rightly so. With the average dog owner using around 730 poo bags a year, should we ask ourselves: what are we bagging it in? And where does that end up?
Most traditional dog poo bags are made from plastic. They’re cheap, strong, and readily available. But as you may well already know, they’re incredibly damaging to the environment. These plastic bags mainly end up in landfill, where they can take centuries to break down. Along the way, they may leach harmful chemicals into soil and water, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. And the bags that don’t make it to landfill? I’m sure, like me, you’ve seen them littering beaches, rivers, and your local dog park.
So, what are the alternatives?
Eco-friendly options…or are they?
In recent years, I’ve tried a whole host of eco-friendly dog poo bags. Terms like biodegradable and compostable are everywhere, but I was shocked to learn recently that they don’t always mean what you think…
Did you know that a compostable poo bag, for instance, often requires an industrial composting facility to break down properly? This isn’t something that’s widely accessible to most dog owners, so most end up in landfill, where they behave much like any other plastic, taking hundreds of years to fully break down.
That said, making the switch to more sustainable options is still a vital step forward. Biodegradable and compostable poo bags offer a gentler footprint and reflect the shift toward zero waste pet care. Progress is better than perfection!
So, what makes a dog poo bag eco friendly?
That’s a question I’ve found myself coming back to time and again. There’s so much greenwashing in the pet industry. Bags labelled as ‘biodegradable’ that barely break down, or ‘compostable’ options that only work in industrial settings. I’m no expert, but I’ve been on a bit of a journey to figure out what actually makes a difference. Along the way, I’ve tested more poo bags than I care to admit, some great, some utterly useless, and a few that have really changed how I think about waste…
An initiative that stood out to me is Project Harmless, who have completely re-thought the whole concept of the dog poo bag. Their plastic-free, water soluble poo bags are genuinely innovative. Made with medical-grade, non-toxic and water-reactive materials, they disintegrate safely and quickly, with no microplastics and no harmful residue.
These bags are tough enough to do the job whilst remaining 100% gentle on the environment which, to me, is the real mark of a good product!
Small actions, big impact
At James & Ella, we talk a lot about responsible pet ownership. I’ve now realised that includes choosing products that reflect our love not just for our dogs, but for the world they live in, too.
Switching to earth-friendly dog products such as eco-friendly dog poo bags felt like a small change for me, but imagine the impact if every dog owner made that switch. Fewer plastic bags in landfill, less environmental damage, more room for wildlife to thrive, cleaner waterways, healthier soil. It all starts with the choices we make every day.
Bags of good intentions!
We pick up after our dogs because we care (and we have to!). But now, we can take that care one step further. Whether you choose biodegradable, compostable, or water-soluble poo bags, the most important thing is to stay conscious, and stay committed to the values that matter.
Until next time,
James x
