For decades Ziploc has been a household name synonymous with convenience. From keeping sandwiches fresh to storing household items, Ziploc products have been a staple in homes around the world. However, they rely heavily on single-use plastics – making Ziploc’s sustainability come into question. 

As consumers start to question the impact of Ziploc on people and the planet, they’ve started to change their business model, implementing new sustainability initiatives and products. That said, are they doing enough?

On Karma Wallet, we rate Ziploc’s sustainability a -1 out of 16, highlighting their need to do more. 

In this blog, we’ll go through the good and the bad – what Ziploc is doing right, and wrong, when it comes to social and environmental impact. 

Let’s get started.

The Good

Reducing Food Waste

Ziploc was created in the 1960s by The Dow Chemical Company, revolutionizing food storage with its zipper style resealable plastic bags. Over the years, the brand expanded its product line to include various sizes and types of bags, containers, and accessories, all designed to make storage easier and more efficient. Today, Ziploc is owned by SC Johnson & Son.

Ziploc products are great at keeping food fresh, which reduces overall food waste. In the United States, people waste 92 billion pounds of food annually, equal to 145 billion meals. When used correctly, Ziploc (and other air-tight food storage systems) can store food safely for longer, reducing what gets tossed. 

Materials & Recyclability

Select Ziploc products, but not all, are now made without BPA and phthalates, two potentially harmful chemicals often found in plastic products. SC Johnson, their parent company, claims to evaluate their product ingredients with the Greenlist program that looks for possible health impacts.

It is awesome that consumers are able to search for the specific ingredients in all SC Johnson products… but their guidelines are still relatively lax for certain ingredients like bleach, dyes, inks, you name it. 

Ziploc also states that their bags are recyclable in some areas. While this is true, the recyclability depends highly on the area a consumer lives in – and if that area offers plastic film recycling options. They also state their Endurables are recyclable through TerraCycle, a specialty recycling company.

While including recycling information on Ziploc products can be helpful, at the end of the day, these products are still mostly single-use. Recyclability might be limited based on a consumer’s location, or require additional work. More than likely, Ziploc products will be headed straight to the landfills, despite limited recyclability. 

The Bad

Microplastics & Crude Oil

Most estimates show the average American family uses 500 Ziploc bags every year. These plastic storage bags are made of either low-density polyethylene (or LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (or HDPE) that fall under the category of plastic film. 

New studies are showing that products like Ziploc create microplastics, aka microscopic plastic particles that can be ingested or deposited into the environment. As plastic products experience change in temperatures, or exist over time, they are more likely to create microplastics. 

A recent study found that about 3 million tonnes of primary microplastics are released annually into the global environment, and that the average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year.

They’re also made from crude oil, a non-renewable resource that generates significant pollution and emissions during processing, and is not biodegradable.

Each Ziploc bag likely takes over 400 years to degrade in a landfill environment. 

Sustainable Alternatives to Ziploc Bags

We love Ziploc’s concept of creating options for food storage that prolong the life of your snacks. But, there is a more sustainable way to do it. 

Option 1: Compostable Single-Use Alternatives 

If you love the convenience of Ziploc, there are single-use bag options that are made from plant-based bioplastics that are compostable or biodegradable at the end of their life. Check out these brands doing things differently:

• BioBag Compostable Bags
• Green Paper Products

Option 2: Reusable Alternatives 

Our favorite for truly reducing waste and impact is reusable food storage containers. From beeswax wraps to glass jars to silicone baggies, there is no shortage of awesome companies inventing food storage solutions that are better for our planet. Here’s a few of our favorites:

• Preserve Products | Recycled Plastic Food Storage
• Reusable Beeswax Wraps
• Reusable Silicone Stasher Bags

Karma Wallet & Ziploc’s Sustainability

Karma Wallet uses 40+ third-party data sources to rate 18,000+ companies, including Ziploc, on their impact on the environment and communities. 

We rate Ziploc’s sustainability a -1 out of 16, highlighting their lack of initiatives in Climate Action and overall Sustainability, while giving them a point for their Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. 

Want to see their full Company Report card? Explore it on Karma Wallet to learn more!