Here you will find our frequently asked questions section for DirtBags, which are a reusable and compostable fuel and gear carry system. An alternative to single-use plastic packaging that ends up in the landfill after one use.
DirtBags Business
What are DirtBags?
DirtBags are the first, ultralight, reusable and compostable zip bags designed to organise and carry your fuel and essential items for long days out on the trail.
They have been made and can be used as direct replacements to single energy gels, enerty powder packets and chew/bar packets as well as plastic ziploc bags.
Are these the worlds first reusable energy gel, energy chew and energy powder packet?
Yes they are! Silicone soft flasks have existed for almost a decade but are meant for energy gels in bulk and can't carry energy powders or energy chews as well as home-made snacks and other bulk bought fuelling sources.
Small DirtBags are similar size to a large energy gel packet and you can have single-serving gels, chews and powders in a DirtBag and once you've used them, take them home, wash, dry them and reuse them again with the fuel of your choice.
What is a seasonal pre-order?
We use seasonal pre-orders to capture orders for DirtBags over the span of a few weeks. We then only manufacture what has been ordered (and a little more just in case), which is then sent to you early on in the new season.
When will I get my order?
We work on a seasonal production run, when you order at the beginning or middle of a season, we aim to have them manufactured and shipped to you at the beginning of the next season.
If you order in early or mid winter, this is part of the Spring Drop (the next season) as this is when we will ship them to you.
We will keep you up to date with the progress of the pre-order every couple of weeks with any new updates.
DirtBags and Fuelling
Check out our complete guide to fuelling with DirtBags here if you have any more questions.
Are These Just Runner Sized Ziploc Bags?
Basically, yes they are, they're ziploc bags but with a few small changes that i've iterated and tested over the past couple of years to make them work in many different ways, for different fuelling plans and scenarios.
They are runner sized bioplastic ziploc bags that you can home-compost instead of putting single use energy gel packets, powder packets and plastic ziplocs in the landfill.
You can already buy plastic Ziploc Bags, whats the difference?
As well as the material that asks far less of the planet, DirtBags will come with two double bone zips on them for extra security and redundancy.
Plastic ziploc bags can be reused, which is good, they ask more of the planet in their production (bigger climate impact) and cannot be recycled.
DirtBags reduce their impact, are reusable and not just recyclable but home compostable.
You can already buy bioplastic ziploc bags, whats the difference?
There are a couple of key differences to anything else on the market right now. One is the size and the other is type of zips and quantity on DirtBags.
For the bioplastic ziploc bags that are currently available, you can't get them any smaller than 20cm x 20cm and they only come with one zip which usually is a single bone zip too, which aren't that secure.
These are great for putting a sandwich in or something like that.
The size of the ones available makes it impossible to fuel from like you would with an energy gel, energy chew or single serving energy powder packet.
Small DirtBags are made specifically for fuelling, i've successfully used these as single-serve packets that directly replace energy gel packets, energy powder packets and chew/bar/sweet packets and made hundreds of prototypes in various sizes to get to this size.
DirtBags also come with two double bone ziplocs on them for redundancy and extra strength in the ziploc compared to the single bone ziplocs that are most commonly used.
What is a double bone zip?
If you look at most ziploc bags, they come with one zip on them, DirtBags come with two, which are spaced 5mm apart.
As well as that, most ziploc bags have what is called a single bone zip, this is where a single bone sits within two bones on the other side of the bag, sealing them together.
DirtBags use double bone zips which are two bones on one side that slide in to three bones on the other side. Paired with two of these, sat 5mm apart, make for a far more secure lock and seal, which is great for energy gels, energy powders in Small DirtBags and keeping items and gear dry in Large DirtBags.
This also means if one zip fails, there is another for backup if you're already out on trail.
Are DirtBags Food Safe?
Yes, they are and they're also free from BPA too.
The material we use from the manufacturer is tested for EU food contact in many different ways to check they are safe for food.
Do DirtBags Contain Forever Chemicals and Flourine?
No they do not, there are no forever chemicals in the material or used in the production of DirtBags.
They are tested by CTI, CNAS who als do the food contact report.
Is it possible to have an energy gel from a DirtBag
Yes, with ease and with very little mess. Watch this video here where I demonstrate:
How Many Energy Gels Can Fit In To A DirtBag?
You can fit approximately one large energy gel that will have about 40g of carbohydrates in it decanted in to a Small DirtBag.
Perfectly replicating a single-use energy gel you'd buy from a nutritional brand which when consumed will keep you going for roughly 30 mins on a 80g of carbs per hour fuelling strategy.
Will the DirtBag degrade in my running vest or pack?
No. DirtBags are made from certified food-grade bioplastics. They won't leak, dissolve, or interact with your nutrition on the trail.
We have personally tested them for days on end in horrendous weather and they've kept our gear dry inside and the gels were safe to use even after a couple of days storage.
They require heat, moisture, specific organisms and the correct environment, such as a compost for the DirtBags material to start to degrade and compost.
Is it possible to store and decant energy powder in a DirtBag
Yes, just like you would with a single-serving energy powder sachet, you just have to decant energy powder from a bulk tub in to it and fill as many as you need for your adventure. When you need them, the slim 6cm wide opening gets smaller as you open it to around 4cm which fits nicely in to the top of a silicone soft flask and pours directly in to it, just add water and you're done.
Is it possible to store and consume energy chews from a DirtBag
Yes, either home-made or bulk bought energy chews, get inspiration on our sustainable fuelling guide and just decant the amount you want (in carbs) in to a Small DirtBag that fits with your nutritional plan and you've just recreated what expensive nutritional brands are selling you but for a fraction of the price.
How easy and secure are the DirtBags ziplocs?
They are very secure as most cheap and small ziploc bags for jewellry, pills or popsicles (ice lollies) that can be used for energy powders have poorly made zips that are just single bone and often get stuck.
DirtBags have two zips that are 10mm apart from each other and are double bone, meaning more secure and a nice solid pop open when you need to open them as they have a decent 15mm of space above the top zip for you to get your fingers in and open them.
Can I Cook Hot Food In DirtBags?
No, bioplastics should not be used with anything over 40c, preferably cooler temperatures when cleaning them.
They generally have a low Glass Transition Temperature, often between 55c and 75c, meaning they lose structural integrity.
Many hot camping meals are boil in the bag and bioplastic zip bags like DirtBags are not recommended for this.
Can I make cold soak food when backpacking?
Yes, DirtBags are perfect for cold soaking food and making things like overnight oats.
Simply add your ingredients and let it soak in water, or a plant-based milk of your choice for a few hours, depending on your recipe and enjoy your meal later on.
DirtBags and the Environment
What are DirtBags made from?
DirtBags are crafted from PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) and combined with PLA, which is derived from plant sources, this blend significantly cuts overall fossil fuel use and makes compostable.
Bioplastics are made by extracting cornstarch from corn kernels, then heating and mixing it with ingredients like vinegar and glycerin to create a polymer. The vinegar acts to break down the starch molecules, while glycerin acts as a plasticizer, making the final material more flexible.
This mixture is heated until it solidifies into a plastic material and we get the base granules shown below which are then used to make a myriad of bioplastic products, in this case, DirtBags.
Most importantly, they facilitate the transition toward a more circular production system where materials can return to natural cycles rather than accumulating as permanent waste. Which is the case for gel packets, plastic zip bags and silicone soft flasks.
How durable are DirtBags and how long will DirtBags last?
How long they will last is hard to answer, from my experience this will depend on how they're being used, how they're being looked after and stored and so on and will obviously change from person to person.
The longest I have had one last with continuous use is nearly 1 year. I put my camera battery and sd card in it for when i run with my camera setup and when filming and last year during some filming, at the end of summer, it finally got holes in it.
In December 2025 I did a video every day for socials, just showing myself using them, I used the same 3 small DirtBags and a couple of Large DirtBags and used them repeatedly throughout the month. They're now all in my cupboard after I washed and dried them and are ready for more adventures.
How do I dispose of a DirtBag at the end of its lifespan?
Once your DirtBag has completed dozens of adventures and eventually wears out, do not put it in standard plastic recycling.
Don't have a home compost?
Iif you don't have a home compost or your local area does not accept bioplastics and you have to put them in the bin.
You've still asked less of the planet than using a plastic based single-use energy gel packet that you put in the landfill.
This is because an energy gel, powder or chew packet creates much more emissions and a larger impact on the planet in its production than a DirtBag.
So even if you use a DirtBag just once, which we don't recommend and then put them in to the bin, you have reduced your impact on the planet whilst fuelling for your endurance adventures.
How long will they take to compost?
Composting at home is an aerobic process and requires a few things to get going, oxygen, moisture, heat and microorganisms.
DirtBags are certified home compostable by TUV, this means that at least 90 % of the material must be degraded within 12 months of being placed in a home compost system.
Are They Certified Compostable
Yes, DirtBags are home compostable certified by TUV and Din Certco.
Certificates can be seen from the manufacturer here: https://okcert.tuvaustria.com/database-of-certified-products/ Registration #: TA8022408191
They are certified to the following criteria:
Conformity mark: OK compost HOME: The TÜV Austria OK compost HOME standard is a globally recognized certification program ensuring packaging, bags, and tableware fully biodegrade in backyard compost piles without leaving toxic residues or microplastics behind.
DIN EN 13432 is a strict European standard that specifies the requirements for packaging materials to be classified as industrially compostable and biodegradable.
ASTM D6400 is the standard specification in the United States used to label plastics and polymers as "compostable in municipal or industrial facilities". It guarantees that items will break down safely and completely in large-scale commercial composting environments without leaving behind toxic residue.
How do they reduce plastic waste?
By choosing bulk and refill fuel options from nutritional brands or making your own at home, you buy ingredients in bulk which is far more efficient in their packaging. You then decant them in to DirtBags which replicate single-serving packets but are actually reusable, after using them, take them home, wash them, dry them and reuse them.
This reduces single-use plastic demand that ends up in landfill as the majority of these packaging types, which are usually multi layered laminated plastic cannot be recycled.
How do you make a home compost?
A pile of dirt does not make a compost, you need a few things to make sure that your home compost works.
Brown material, this is the carbon, it provides energy and structure. Examples include dead leaves, branches, twigs, shredded cardboard, newspaper, and straw.in the form of cardboard or similar, plant scraps and moisture
Green material, this is the nitrogen and it provides protein to grow and reproduce the microorganisms that break down the material. Examples include grass clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and tea leaves.
Finally, moisture is necessary for the microorganisms to digest materials.
I just put them in my home compost bin with all my food (plant) scraps that I add once or twice a week, along with carbon in the form of cardboard and add water to it every week or two. I turn the compost once a month to have a look but also help with adding oxygen to it.
Taking Care of Your DirtBags
Here we'll go through some common asked questions about taking care of your DirtBags so that they last longer.
Can You Put DirtBags In To The Microwave?
No, they are not made for the microwave and any temperatures above 60-75c will start to deform the bioplastic that DirtBags are made from.