Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Pet Products
Help reduce your pet's environmental paw-print
This article is written by Pet Circle veterinarian,
In our modern society there has been an increasing movement towards living a greener and healthier lifestyle. Everyday products are now manufactured with the environment in mind, with terms such as eco-friendly, biodegradable, recyclable and sustainable on packaging, to encourage consumers to make environmentally friendly choices and reduce their carbon footprint.
With over 29 million pets in Australia, an increasing number of environmentally aware pet parents are looking for more eco-friendly product options for their fur baby. There is now a wide range of "green" alternatives available to reduce your pets carbon paw-print and decrease their negative impact on the environment.
Making a more environmentally conscious choice for your pet doesn't need to involve major changes but is more about incorporating sustainable or eco-friendly items into your everyday life.
Contents:
- Eco-Friendly Collars and Leads
- Eco-Friendly Poop Products
- Eco-Friendly Food
- Eco-Friendly Treats
- Eco-Friendly Toys
- Eco-Friendly Bowls
- Eco-Friendly Grooming Products
Eco-Friendly Collars and Leads
For collars and leads that are as stylish as they are sustainable, look no further than Anipal. This Australian brand gives plastic bottles a second life through the manufacture of a range of collars and leads, for dogs and cats, all featuring beautiful Australian threatened species prints.
Mog & Bone make a range of hemp collars and harnesses for dogs and cats. Made from natural hemp fibres, an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic materials, these products are durable and stylish.
If you are looking for an ethical option, Pawfect Pals are an Australian company that make a range of luxurious, cruelty-free vegan leather collars for dogs and cats.
Eco-Friendly Poop Products
Doggy Bags
While not the most pleasant part of owning a dog, picking up your dog's poop is a part of responsible pet ownership. You can feel better about "poop duty" by opting for environmentally friendly compostable or biodegradable poop bags.
Compostable poop bags are made from plant based materials such as cornstarch and break down completely to become part of the soil, making them a zero waste product. While great for the environment, these bags are often not as durable as traditional plastic based bags.
Biodegradable or Degradable poop bags are often plastic based with additives to break down the product over time. While often made out of recycled plastic, these bags are designed to break down into smaller pieces of plastic.
Beco have a range of environmentally-friendly compostable bags made from cornstarch and biodegradable bags, manufactured from 40% recycled plastic with a recyclable cardboard core.
Cat Litter
There are a large range of environmentally friendly options when it comes to litter and reducing your cat's carbon paw-print. Eco-friendly options include compostable, biodegradable, sustainable or recycled litters.
Paper litter varieties such as Breeders Choice and Scrunch and Sticks are manufactured from recycled paper, free from any nasties and are completely biodegradable.
Plant-based litter such as corn, tofu and wood are comprised of natural, sustainable and biodegradable ingredients with some varieties even compostable.
Warning: Always ensure optimal hygiene practices when handling used cat litter. Cat faeces can be a source of parasites and bacteria including Toxoplasma gondii which can pose a significant risk to pregnant women and children. Never use composted litter on edible plants or vegetables and ensure that you always wash your hands after handling used cat litter.
Eco-Friendly Food
Open Farm offer a revolution in sustainable, ethically-sourced, and super premium holistic pet food that benefits more than just your pet. Not only are Open Farm diets made with top quality proteins and superfoods, but every product is proudly produced with a focus on transparent sourcing and traceability, humane production animal welfare standards, ethically sourced ingredients, and sustainable fishing practices in line with Ocean Wise Standards.
Ziwi , K9 Natural and Feline Natural provide a range of wet and freeze-dried diets for dogs and cats that are formulated from natural, ethical and sustainably sourced ingredients. They only use free-range, grass-fed and ethically raised local beef, lamb and poultry and wild-caught and sustainable seafood.
Eco-Friendly Treats
We all love treating our pets and with a wide variety of eco-friendly options available, you can treat your pet and know you are looking after the planet at the same time.
Ziwi and K9 Natural for dogs, and Feline Natural for cats, are passionate about providing a range of treats that are formulated from natural, ethical and sustainably sourced ingredients. They only use free-range, grass-fed and ethically raised local beef, lamb and poultry and wild-caught and sustainably caught seafood.
Eco-Friendly Toys
Earth-friendly dog and cat toy options include those that are made from natural, sustainably sourced material and those manufactured from recycled materials.
Beco, once again leading the way in sustainable products, makes a range of dog and cat toys made of natural hemp and sustainably sourced rubber as well as recycled plastic bottles.
West Paw have developed safe, durable and responsibly made interactive toys for dogs. Made from recycled ocean-bound plastic and zero-waste Zogoflex. All Zogoflex toys can be infinitely recycled to be made by West Paw into new dog toys.
Eco-Friendly Bowls
Plastic bowls are not just bad for the environment but they can leech dangerous BPAs into your pet's food or water, and can be prone to breaking or harbouring dangerous bacteria.
Stainless steel and ceramic bowls are safer for our pets, but for an eco-friendly option, it is best to opt for products made from natural plant materials such as bamboo. The Beco range of bowls are plastic-free and made from natural plant materials including bamboo, cornstarch and rice husks, a by-product of rice farming. Beco bowls are tough, durable and as hard-wearing as plastic alternatives.
Bamboo is commonly used in sustainable products as it grows 30 times faster than trees, producing 30 times the amount of oxygen and absorbing 35 times the amount of carbon dioxide. Bamboo can be sustainably harvested by cutting the plant, leaving the root system in place to grow again.
Eco-Friendly Grooming Products
There has recently been a movement in human and animal grooming products to more traditional, minimally packaged and natural alternatives.
Troopets make a range of 100% essential oil and natural extract soap bars to wash your dog, free from any nasties, including plastic bottle packaging.
A great alternative to traditional baths and a good option for cats, is cleansing wipes. M Pet Cleansing Bamboo Wipes are made from natural materials and are 100% biodegradable and compostable, while keeping your pet fresh and clean.
Further Reading
What is the Best Flea and Tick Treatment?
Hemp and Cannabis Oil for Pets
Want to know more? Check out our Discover Page for more tips on keeping your pets happy and healthy.