FINALLY, A SOLUTION FOR ECO-CONSCIOUS DOG OWNERS

Project Harmless

By Poppy Watt

Not having a dog myself, to be honest, poop bags weren’t something I gave much thought to. However, having been introduced to Harmless Poop Bags, there is a lot more to dog waste bags than I could have ever imagined.

They might not be the most glamorous topic, but it’s a huge problem for all of us. The majority will be around for 500 years.

As they decay, they release poisonous microplastics and toxins which are bad for wildlife and the environment.

Approximately 10% of all general waste plastic worldwide ends up in our rivers and oceans. As a result, an estimated 100 million marine animals die each year.

Harmless Poop Bags are a sustainable solution to the growing environmental issue of dog waste bags. If they end up in our waters, they will rapidly disintegrate in our seas and oceans. Unlike conventional bags, they will not ensnare marine life.

In addition, if digested, the non-toxic and micro-plastic free material will safely pass through the systems of marine animals and not endanger marine life or the human food chain.

What are they Made From?

These award-winning dog waste bags are made of medical grade, water-reactive, non-toxic, and micro-plastic free material, allowing the bag to rapidly disintegrate in landfill, or in our seas and oceans, yet remain durable enough for their purpose.

George Greer and his partner started Project Harmless when they came across an area full of debris and washed-up plastic on the northern shore of Loch Long in Scotland while walking their dog. It highlighted the huge amount of plastic in waters, including single-use plastic bags and dog waste bags.

As they began to investigate, they realised many dog waste bag products mislead dog owners or are silent regarding their environmental impact.

Generally, dog waste bags consist of 3 types of material marketed as:

“Degradable/Recycled” – the same material as supermarket carrier bags, they will take over 500 years to degrade, releasing toxins and microplastics in the process.

“Biodegradable” – while biodegradable bags are much better than degradable bags, many require oxygen to biodegrade.

The University of Plymouth did a study in 2019 in which all biodegradable bags tested were still functional after 3 years in water and soil. Many of these bags do not biodegrade in our oceans and are impossible to biodegrade in landfills.

If one of these bags ends up in our oceans, it will retain its shape for a number of years and could ensnare or be eaten by marine life… with fatal consequences.

“Compostable” – often marketed as the “greenest” option, the vast majority end up in landfills where they will take decades to degrade and as they do release significant amounts of methane because they are usually made from organic material such as corn starch.

The Project Harmless solution involved repurposing a proven water-reactive, non-toxic, and microplastics-free material already used to coat medical pills, resulting in an entirely new category of dog waste bag. The Harmless Poop Bag disintegrates in landfill, and in our seas and oceans, posing no threat to marine life.

It’s refreshing to find an eco-friendly alternative to dog poo bags – an everyday item that every dog walker needs.

Taking the convenience one step further, Project Harmless has recently launched a product exclusively for 5* dog-friendly hotels for incorporation into their dog guest welcome packs, which I think is a wonderful, innovative idea.

Their first hotel was The Egerton House Hotel, Knightsbridge.

Project Harmless has not only introduced a new category of dog waste bag but a truly sustainable solution for all environmentally conscious dog owners.