Hold on, wait a minute! It can take hundreds to thousands of years for plastic to break down in a landfill? Often, plastic doesn’t completely break down - it ends up in our environment as microplastics - I am sure you’ve heard of those micro-guys making their way into our water and even the air!
According to National Geographic, micro-plastics have been found in marine organisms, seafood, and drinking water. If you’ve been hanging around here for a while, you know I have tried to ditch as much plastic as possible, from toothpaste tubes to dog poop bags and everything in between. I’ve looked at countless biodegradable and compostable bags that tout that the product will break down cleanly, but often, in tiny print, it will say, “commercial composting only.” Maybe that’s ok, but I would feel a lot better if I could just do it at home.
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HoldOn uses PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate), PLC (Polylactic Acid), and corn starch to create their bags. PBAT is a biodegradable polymer that requires less oil to create, and PLC is a monomer that often comes from sugar or corn; and I think you already know what corn starch is!
All of HoldOn’s compostable bags are BPI and TUV certified, which are the highest certifications for composability. The BPI certification means the bags have been rigorously tested in a commercial composting facility and do not leave a synthetic residue. Currently, HoldOn offers a kitchen lineup of products that includes compostable tall garbage bags, small garbage bags, zip seal sandwich bags, and zip seal gallon bags. All of the bags can be purchased individually or as a set.
The first thing that we were excited to try was the garbage bags. I noticed first that the bags feel really durable, which I didn’t expect for something that should break down in a matter of weeks. When trash day came, we pulled the bags out with one eye open, half expecting a giant mess, but there was no mess!
As for the small trash bags, we used them in a couple of little trash cans (we usually don’t use a liner, but for this purpose, we decided to use them). You can also use them in a compost bucket, or the other genius idea I had is for cleaning up after your cat (or maybe even dogs too).
When we have a pet sitter, we have a stash of old plastic bags (which breaks my heart) that they use to clean the litter box; these small compostable trash bags would be so perfect for that!
I can’t tell you the last time we had sandwich bags in our home! We kicked those to the curb in favor of reusable bags years ago. If I end up with little plastic bags, I always try to wash them and use them until they fall apart - it drives Matt bananas, but we have to protect Mother Nature, right!?
We used the bags in various ways - they went in Matt’s lunch, stored cookies and produce, and even traveled with me. To test their durability, I took one of the gallon bags, filled it with water, and let it sit in the sink overnight.
Now the big challenge would be our home compost. To be fair, we don’t have a fancy composter; Matt made one out of old recycling bins - figured it should get the job done and find a new way to use something that would get trashed. So, for composting, HoldOn suggests that you cut the zipper seal off before placing it in your compost. Well, I didn’t read that until after I buried it in our compost pile!
When I got home, about 10 days after putting it in the compost, I went digging for it. One note, if you don’t have a home compost, no worries! The bags break down regardless of where they end up, even in a landfill or industrial compost. Confession. I’m using “plastic” baggies again and…I’M LOVING IT!
Intrigued? Let me tell you everything. This post is generously sponsored by HoldOn Bags, a company that is TUV-certified and BPI-certified who makes heavy-duty, compostable bags that break down in weeks, not years. Let’s start at the most important part. I’m not using just any ol’ plastic baggies…I wouldn’t do you (or the planet) like that. Yup. Meet HoldOn. A company who is revolutionizing single-use plastic bags and baggies. No longer will your kitchen and bathroom trash bags, sandwich baggies or gallon baggies be sitting in landfill for generations to come.
RELATED: I tested Caraway Cookware for 6 months. Here’s my honest review. I’m sure by now most of us know that single-use plastic is bad for the environment. But how bad is it really? So basically, the problem is not getting any better on its own. To curb an issue like this, we need a hard pivot and HoldOn is stepping up with just that.
People can still buy trash bags, line their trash bin, fill them with trash, take them out and throw them in their outdoor garbage bins and then have the city collect them on trash day. Instead of using plastics, HoldOn uses PBAT, PLA, cornstarch and calcium carbonate to make a strong and sustainable material that can be used as trash bags and food storage baggies. PLA (polylactic acid) is a monomer derived from organic, renewable sources like sugar or corn.
Some brands use sneaky marketing tactics when it comes to the term “biodegradable.” For example, anyone can say their product is “biodegradable” because there is no marketing ethics checkpoint before a product like this gets put on the shelf. Yup. No one wants a trash bag that breaks when you lift it out of the bin or a sandwich baggy that won’t stay zip closed. Which is great, but I mean LFG!
I want to see HoldOn doggie poop bags, HoldOn grocery store and convenience store bags, HoldOn shipping bags AND product sleeve bags, HoldOn dry cleaning bags, HoldOn shower caps…I mean how about HoldOn shrink wrap, plastic wrap and food sleeves…and the list goes on and on.
TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? HoldOn Bags are a solution to single-use plastic bags that doesn’t require any compromise from the user. I found them to be strong - no leaks, rips or tears in my experience.
HoldOn bags aim to replace common single-use bags with a compostable alternative that can break down in weeks rather than years, addressing both consumer convenience and environmental impact.
Durability tests in real use show that the bags can hold contents without leaking or tearing, supporting practical home and small-office applications.
They are designed to work for kitchen waste, snacks, and pantry items, and the packaging emphasizes the combination of PBAT, PLC and corn starch as key components to balance strength and compostability.
Biodegradable Garbage Bags: What Are They, Do They Work, When Should You Use Them...
The certifications (BPI and TUV) indicate compliance with recognized standards for compostability and safety, which helps reassure consumers about performance and end-of-life behavior.
Home composting is possible for HoldOn bags, though the manufacturer notes that bags can break down even in landfill or industrial facilities, offering flexibility for different disposal options.
In practice, readers can consider HoldOn for trash bags, small liners, and sandwich or gallon bags, aiming to reduce overall plastic waste while maintaining everyday convenience.
While marketing phrases like “biodegradable” deserve scrutiny, HoldOn emphasizes a more robust performance profile and real-world testing results, aligning consumer expectations with actual outcomes.
If you’re exploring a transition away from traditional plastics, HoldOn presents a concrete option that combines renewable feedstocks with certifications and practical usability across various household tasks.
In sum, HoldOn bags provide a credible pathway to minimize environmental impact without sacrificing everyday practicality, supported by certifications and user-tested durability.
- HoldOn bags use PBAT, PLC, and cornstarch to create compostable trash and storage bags.
- They are BPI and TUV certified, tested for performance in commercial composting facilities and beyond.
- Durability in real-world use shows resistance to leaks and tears under typical loads.
- Disposal can be home composted or sent to industrial/commercial facilities, with safe end-of-life options.
Ключевые особенности HoldOn компостируемых пакетов
- Материалы: PBAT, PLC, кукурузный крахмал, кальций карбонат
- Сертификации: BPI и TUV
- Продукты: мешки для мусора, пакеты для еды, герметичные пакетики
tags: #holdon #compostable #bags