Too much text on a pricey bag
My experience with these bags: they demonstrated strengths and notable drawbacks, particularly when compared to traditional plastic freezer bags. The Good: Strong, Sturdy, and Freezer-Proof One of the standout features of the Matter compostable freezer bags is their robust construction. The material feels significantly thick, (especially when compared to other compostable bags) and this translated to excellent performance in the freezer. Over multiple weeks of storing various food items, not a single bag ripped or showed concerning signs of wear and tear. Furthermore, the interlocking zipper provides a strong enough seal that I was confident the food inside was well-protected from freezer burn but confident enough that I would fill one of these bags with leftover soup to freeze. From a durability standpoint during freezer use, these bags performed well. The Not-So-Good: Functionality Compromised by Design and Opacity Despite their strength, the practical usability of the Matter bags in a busy freezer was frustrating. The bags are not transparent and feature a wall of reminders that compostable bags are making a difference in the fight against climate change on one side. While I appreciate the heads up that the bags break down in 12 months, this design choice, coupled with the opaque material, makes identifying contents a pain. Locating a specific item often involved pulling out multiple bags and relying on any notes I might have jotted on the limited clear space. And i'll be honest, I don't always write on the bags! This is a step down from the ease of use offered by clear plastic bags, where contents are readily visible and even the house brands place a space to write contents and date on the bag. This design choice hampered the primary function for me which left me frustrated because it feels unnecessary. If I am willing to pay 3x more per bag for it to be compostable, I do not need a reminder that compostable bags break down and plastic ones don't. The Cost Factor: A Premium for Eco-Friendliness Sustainability often comes at a premium, and these freezer bags are no exception. A recent check at Target revealed a price of $4.49 for a pack, translating to approximately $0.30 per bag. In comparison, Ziploc brand freezer bags were priced around $0.22 per bag, while Target's Up and Up store brand offered an even more budget-friendly option at roughly $0.09 per bag. While investing more in sustainable products is a choice many, including myself, are willing to make, the Matter bags feel like a luxury item that doesn't quite match the everyday functionality of their less expensive, traditional plastic counterparts. The higher cost, combined with the challenges in identifying contents, makes the choice whether I buy these in the future, less straightforward. I wanted to like them. I cheered when I pulled out a bag that had been sitting in the freezer for a week and it was intact and closed. But I had to pick the bag up to figure out whether it held bagels or kale. Final Thoughts Matter compostable freezer bags boast a strong seal and durable, freezer-safe material. However, the busy external printing made food storage and organization harder. Coupled with a significantly higher price point than conventional plastic freezer bags, they represent a trade-off between eco-consciousness and common sense.I would not recommend these at the moment. If they remove the busy text and make it easy to write the contents on the outside, probably on both sides of the bag, I am interested in trying these again.