I used to be that cat parent throwing away 200+ plastic bags annually, just for litter waste disposal. Like many cat parents, I thought reusing grocery bags was the environmentally responsible choice. I was wrong!
I made the switch to certified compostable cat litter bags, pictured below, and have not looked back!
1. The Problems with Plastic Litter Bags
Plastic Bags Aren't Strong Enough
Let's be honest... most of us have reused grocery bags to scoop litter. It seems practical, but they don't work well for this use!
- Grocery bags aren't designed to hold heavy, gritty litter, and may tear or get pierced
- They often arrive with holes that litter can fall through
- Small tears already in the bags can expand or split bags when heavy litter is added
The Environmental Impact
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. They never fully go away as they break into microplastics that pollute water, soil, and food chains.
With over 42 million cat-owning homes in America, we're collectively dumping billions of plastic litter bags into landfills every single year.
So even when you're trying to reduce waste by reusing bags, you're still contributing to long-term pollution.
Our Recommendation: Swap plastic grocery bags for reusable bags AND use compostable litter bags.
2. What Makes Compostable Cat Litter Bags Different
Compostable cat litter bags are made from plant-based material designed to break down into non-toxic, organic matter under the right composting conditions.
We recommend looking for compostable cat litter bags that are:
- Certified by third-party composting standards
- Strong enough to hold clumping litter without ripping
- Large enough for multi-cat homes
- Made in America to reduce the carbon footprint
3. Americat Company's Certified Compostable Cat Litter Bags
Americat Company cat litter bags are certified USDA Biobased and triple-certified compostable. Here are the details about our certifications.
Certified USDA Biobased Product
According to the USDA, The term "biobased product" means a product determined by the Secretary to be a commercial or industrial product (other than food or feed) that is- (A) composed, in whole or in significant part, of biological products, including renewable domestic agricultural materials, renewable chemicals, and forestry materials; or (B) an intermediate ingredient or feedstock. Biobased Products are derived from raw materials such as plants and other renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materials. Biobased products generally provide an alternative to conventional petroleum derived products and include a diverse range of offerings such as lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. Biobased products do not include food, feed, or fuel.
Compost Manufacturing Alliance Compost Approved
"Compost Manufacturing Alliance is a global leader in providing industrial composting facilities an acceptance standard for compostables by performing field disintegration testing through several prominent processing methods to ensure products sent to industrial compost facilities adequately break down within the production cycle."
Certified TUV OK Home Compost
"OK HOME Compost is a certification scheme for products that are degradable in home composting. It is the basis of several standards."
"Owing to the comparatively smaller volume of waste involved, the temperature in a garden compost heap is clearly lower and less constant than in an industrial composting environment. This is why composting in the garden is a more difficult, slower-paced process.
TÜV AUSTRIA’s innovative answer to this challenge was to develop OK compost HOME to guarantee complete biodegradability in the light of specific requirements, even in your garden compost heap."
Certified TUV OK Industrial Compost (EN 13432)
"OK Industrial Compost is a certification scheme for products guaranteed to be biodegradable in industrial composting plants.
Packaging or products bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL label are guaranteed to be biodegradable in an industrial composting plant. This applies to all of their components, inks and additives. The sole reference point for the certification program is the harmonized EN 13432: 2000 standard: in any event, any product bearing the OK compost INDUSTRIAL logo complies with the requirements of the EU Packaging Directive ( 94/62/EEC)."
4. Performance that Beats Plastic!
A cat litter bag must work in order to prevent a mess! So, when we developed our certified compostable cat litter bags, we considered how to make the best cat litter bag.
Stronger Than Plastic: Each bag can hold up to 11 pounds of litter - we tested this with actual dumbbells. We've sold thousands and have never received a customer complaint about breaking. Sean H. reports: "I've used 200+ bags and haven't had any torn bags, defective bags, etc."
Designed for Real Cat Homes: At 8 x 16 inches with tie handles, they're sized for multi-cat homes. You can open them easily with one hand, and they stay open while you scoop litter with the other hand. The tie-closure seals in the smell.
Made in the USA: These certified compostable cat litter bags are made in the USA, just like all Americat Company products.
In addition to unmatched quality, American manufacturing allows us to create jobs in our country and reduce emissions as products are made closer to home.
5. What Cat Parents Are Saying
"The litter bags are great. I was using grocery store bags and by the time I got them home, there were holes in the bags and I had to tape them in order to use them for the scoop. It was a pain, but these bags are stronger than those and “no holes” to tape up." - Nancy D.
"I am very pleased with the quality of these cat litter bags. I have not had any rips. I love that they are plant-based and compostable. I also love that they are US based." - Nicole B.
"These litter bags are just the right size, neither too small nor too large. They're plant-based and certified compostable. And they’re made in the USA. What more could anyone ask for?" - Carol H.
6. Make the Switch to Compostable Cat Litter Bags Today
Switching to compostable cat litter bags is an easy step, but the ripple effects are huge. You'll reduce your home's plastic use by hundreds of bags annually while protecting your home from litter spills.
Sustainable choices don't require sacrificing performance. Certified compostable cat litter bags by Americat Company prove you can help both your cats and the planet without compromising on performance, convenience, or values.
For convenience, set up subscribe & save delivery every 45-90 days to save!
Cleaner homes. Happier cats. Healthier planet.
-Diane, Founder & CEO, Americat Company
