How to Dispose of Dog Poop the Right Way
Every walk ends the same way. Here is the honest, six-step version of what to do with it,...
Read articleVerdict
Earth Rated wins on price and scent variety. The Original Poop Bags wins on certified plant content and transparency.
If you want the cheapest bag per roll, a lavender option, and a brand stocked in every store, Earth Rated is a genuinely solid pick. If you want bags with third-party-certified plant-based content, a count-down feature so you never run out mid-walk, and a brand that donates with every order, The Original Poop Bags is the better buy. Nobody here is selling you a bad bag. They are selling you different priorities.
The Full Scorecard
How the brands compare, criterion by criterion.
| Criteria | Our pick The Original Poop Bags | Earth Rated |
|---|---|---|
| Material / plant content | USDA Certified Biobased, 38% or 92% plant-based | Standard bags are conventional plastic; separate certified compostable line exists |
| Third-party certification | First bags ever certified by USDA BioPreferred Program | Compostable line is certified; standard everyday bags are not |
| Strength & leak protection | Leak-proof and tear-proof | Extra-thick and leak-proof (strong reputation) |
| Size & fit | Leash rolls, bulk rolls, handle-tie; fits standard dispensers | Standard rolls; fits standard dispensers |
| Scent / options | Unscented and orange scented; Countdown Rolls count 15 to 1 | Unscented and signature lavender |
| Price per bag | Mid-range, offset by plant content and donation | Among the lowest per bag in large multipacks |
| Best for | Pet parents who want certified plant-based and giving back | Bargain shoppers who want scent options and wide availability |
What these bags are actually made of
This is where the two brands split.
The Original Poop Bags built its whole identity around a single verifiable fact: its 92% and 38% plant-based bags were the first ever certified by the USDA BioPreferred Program. "USDA Certified Biobased" is not a vibe. It is a third-party measurement of how much of the bag comes from plants instead of oil. You can look it up. That is the point.
Earth Rated takes a different route. Its everyday bags, the lavender and unscented rolls most people buy, are conventional plastic that the brand markets as extra thick and dependable. Earth Rated also sells a separate certified compostable line made from plant-based materials. That line is the genuinely greener option in their catalog, and it is fair to give them credit for offering it.
The catch is the part shoppers miss. The popular Earth Rated dog poop bags on the shelf are usually not the compostable ones. So if buying greener is the goal, you have to read which Earth Rated product you are actually adding to the cart.
Strength, leaks, and the real-walk test
Here is the good news. You are not choosing between strong and weak.
Earth Rated earned its following by being thick and reliable, the kind of bag that does not surprise you on a cold morning. The Original Poop Bags are built leak-proof and tear-proof for the same reason. Picking up after your dog is not the moment for a thin bag and a hopeful attitude.
The one real-world edge goes to The Original Poop Bags' Countdown Rolls. Each bag is numbered from 15 down to 1, so you get a heads-up before you run out instead of discovering the problem at the worst possible time, two blocks from home with a very patient dog. It is a small thing. Small things are most of dog ownership.
For day-to-day toughness, treat this as a tie and choose on the factors below.
Price per bag: what you actually pay
Let us be honest about money, because everyone is quietly doing this math.
Earth Rated usually wins on raw price per bag, especially in the big multipacks. It is mass-produced, widely distributed, and priced to move. If the lowest possible cost per pickup is your top priority, that is a real advantage.
The Original Poop Bags sit a little higher per bag, and the brand is upfront about why. You are paying for certified plant-based content instead of straight plastic, and a slice of every order funds animal rescues and conservation through its You Buy; We Donate program. If you want to bring the cost down without dropping quality, the brand wrote a whole guide on how to save on dog poop bags.
So: cheapest sticker price, Earth Rated. Best value if plant content and giving back matter to you, The Original Poop Bags.
Eco claims, decoded
This is the part the category hopes you skip.
The Original Poop Bags' own site points shoppers to the FTC Green Guides, the federal rules for honest environmental marketing. The Green Guides exist because words like "eco-friendly," "biodegradable," and "compostable" get thrown around loosely. So decode them before you trust them.
Compostable? Ask where. A bag certified compostable by BPI usually needs an industrial composting facility, not your backyard, and most cities will not take dog waste anyway. Biodegradable? Ask how long, and under what conditions, because buried in a landfill almost nothing breaks down the way the label implies. Recycled plastic? Still plastic.
Here is the same honesty pointed back at The Original Poop Bags, because the brand earns trust by playing fair. "USDA Certified Biobased" is a content claim, not a disposal miracle. It means a verified share of the bag comes from plants. It does not mean the bag composts in your garden. The difference between this brand and the greenwashing it calls out is that it tells you exactly what its claim does and does not mean. If that approach appeals to you, the brand's takes on greenwashing in the poop bag aisle and what "better" pet products really means are worth a read.
Earth Rated is not a villain here. Its compostable line is a legitimate option. Just buy the product that matches the claim you care about, and do not assume the scented roll on the shelf is the green one.
