We used HoldOn's compostable trash and storage bags for a few weeks. Our review is here.

Note: This is a sponsored post. Even though we may receive free products and/or compensation for sponsored posts, we will never sacrifice our honest judgement while reviewing products. Our mission statement is here.

Use the code REDUCE for 15% off in HoldOn orders over $45.

The Top Line:

Overall, MAYBE buy. The small garbage bags are great if used for composting — HoldOn Bags are also cheaper than the composting competition. HoldOn uses much better materials that consume less energy. Additionally, we expect the trash bags to compost, even in landfill conditions.

The kitchen zipseal storage bags are great to use - especially for marinating when tight on time (which is often). We like that you can toss them in the compost when you are done with them rather than the trash and that they compost in weeks. More expensive than typical plastic zip bags, but cheaper than the alternative composting one. The trade-off for all of the products is worth it if you can afford it.

The Breakdown:

• Cost & Products: Trash Bags - Kitchen, 40 for $25.75 & Small, 50 for $13; Kitchen Storage Bags - 1 gallon, 25 for $10.60 & Sandwich, 100 for $15.25. HoldOn also offers sets that can save you up to 15%.

• How ‘Clean’ Is This? These bags are relatively cleaner than traditional trash and kitchen bags: PBAT, PLA and Cornstarch. These bags are 100% home compostable.

• Packaging: 100% Paper packaging - made with FSC certified recycled boxes.

• Purchasing & Shipping: Purchasing on the HoldOn website is straightforward and easy. Shipping is free over $35.

• Note: Also available on Amazon.

• Good to know: HoldOn is committed to improvement: as technology evolves over time, the team is committed to adopting the most advanced materials available to continuously reduce the carbon footprint. Moreover, they are committed to educating consumers about composting and helping to divert as much waste away from the landfill as possible.

  Additionally, because of the materials they use, HoldOn’s bags break down fully — no micro plastics!

• What’s Your Impact? Trash bags - the materials are overall greener to use; they require less energy to create and rely on less crude oil. Kitchen zipseal bags are made from the same materials - which means they can be composted at home! No more sandwich bags in the landfill.

The Good:

✔ Both: Easy to use and material feels strong and nice

✔ Trash Bags: the perforation is really great and easy to use

✔ Trash Bags: drawstring on 13 gallon

✔ Zipseal: trustworthy seal for food products

✔ Both: Home compostable, composts in weeks

✔ Both: Better materials that use less energy, and 50% less crude oil versus standard plastic bags

✔ HoldOn is committed to continuously advance and improve technology of materials over time

The Bad:

✗ 13 Gallon: Can’t handle really heavy/compacted loads of garbage

The Experience

Trash Bags: Once plastic bags were banned at grocery stores, we aimed to find greener options for trash bags. Not only are most options new plastic, they are also much thicker than shopping bags, so the carbon footprint is that much worse. On top of thickness, trash bags are one-time-use, unlike the shopping bag that used to get at least 2 uses in its lifetime. Without further ado, our experience with HoldOn Compostable Trash bags, in both kitchen tall and small:

• Reasonably thick material that feels high quality.

• Rips off so smoothly at the perforation.

• Has very fun slogans and mission statements printed on the bags.

• Kitchen bag is good for medium-heavy trash; heavy bags can cause rips and leaks.

• Kitchen bags have drawstrings that work decently; we had one rip on us.

• Small bags work great and can line your compost bag or bathroom trash.

• Note: compostable materials typically have a very difficult time composting in most landfill environments, which is presumably where your trash will go. That said, though it might take a bit longer, the HoldOn’s trash bags are supposed to break down, even in landfills. Check out HoldOn’s mission statement here.

• Additionally: The bag is marked with BPI and TUV certification, meaning — in some waste management plants, even if you put the bag in the trash, sorting might be done to take it to the correct place to be composted!

Kitchen Zipseal Bags: There’s no good way around it: when you need to marinate something overnight and it’s a little liquid-y, nothing beats sealing in the juices quite like a quick (trustworthy!) zipping bag. We get it. However, we sought out alternatives to the existing plastic zip bags in the supermarket. Here is our experience with HoldOn compostable, zipseal bags:

• The most crucial part of zipseal bags is the reliability of the seal: they pass the test.

• Liquids for our marinades stayed inside the bag.

• We’ve reused lightly used bags with no problem.

• Can be tossed into the home composting bin after use.

• Lines indicated where to snip on the top bit which can take longer to compost.

• Composts in weeks.

The Cost

Trash Bags: We compared HoldOn trash bags to compostable or recycled plastic brands like If You Care, Seventh Generation, Public Goods, and Grove Collaborative as well as traditional full plastic brands like Up&Up from Target, Glad, Hefty and Simple Human.

Kitchen Zipseal Bags: We compared HoldOn kitchen storage bags to mostly regular plastic brands like Up&Up from Target, Ziploc, Stasher, Glad and Hefty. Apparently, families use 500 zipping storage bags per year - so we assumed 250 of each size.

Money Report: HoldOn’s bags are on the more expensive side compared to traditional brands. The small compostable trash bags are on par with other kitchen compost bags, so we think that they are a pretty good deal. Additionally, the sandwich zipseal bags are cheaper than other compostable alternatives.

Note: you can save on each of the items by bundling the products in sets. Further, you can save up to 15% by subscribing, driving the price down even lower.

Our Recommendation:

Overall, MAYBE buy. The small garbage bags are great if used for composting — they are also cheaper than the composting competition. HoldOn uses much better materials that consume less energy. Additionally, we expect the trash bags to compost, even in a landfill conditions. The kitchen zipseal storage bags are great to use - especially for marinating when tight on time (which is often). We like that you can toss them in the compost when you are done with them rather than the trash and that they compost in weeks. More expensive than typical plastic zip bags, but cheaper than the alternative composting one. The trade-off for all of the products is worth it if you can afford it.

We're on a mission to reduce our personal carbon footprint with small, hopefully easy, changes in our home to fight against climate change. This means we're looking for products that may be all natural, ideally zero waste, reusable or compostable -- while still being affordable!