Being environmentally responsible as a pet parent isn’t always easy given the amount of waste our furry friends produce. There are some very simple changes we can make to reduce our footprint on the earth.
Become an environmentally responsible pet parent with these simple lifestyle changes
Posted by PetDirect on 2nd Nov 2020
Choose eco-friendly poop bags
Approximately 500 million plastic poop bags are used annually throughout the world, and one plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decompose in landfill. Yikes, that’s a whole lot of plastic we are contributing as pet parents. The easiest, and most simple, step you can take to becoming more sustainable is to buy eco-friendly poop bags like Beco or Ecopack Recycled Ocean Plastic Poop Bags. Beco bags are made from plant materials and break down faster. What’s even better? Beco bags are large and thick, so you won’t even be able to tell you’ve made the switch from plastic (apart from the little glow you’ll get knowing that once disposed of your poop bag will break down naturally). Ecopack Recycled Ocean Plastic Poop Bags are made with recycled ocean-bound plastics which have been removed from coastlines and waterways. They also come packed in a handy grab’n’go dispenser with 300 strong, unscented, leak-proof poop bags inside. So why not grab an eco-friendly poop bag today and grab a Beco Eco-Friendly Poop Bag Holder to go with?
Choose an eco-friendly cat litter
Some cat litter include sodium bentonite clay; a clay sourced using a destructive strip-mining method. Make sure to check the what makes up the litter you buy. Ideally, you should be using materials that you would compost in your own garden such as sawdust, shredded paper, or even leaves. We recommend Breeder Celect Recycled Paper Cat Litter or
Pick up a bag of rubbish on your daily walk
Take an extra bag with you on your daily walk and pick up any litter you see along the way. It’s easy to build this into your routine, and if you’re walking your dog, they don’t mind the extra time to stop and sniff. Dispose of your litter responsibly at the end of your walk, and feel great about the good deed you’ve just done. This is also a great challenge for kids. A full bag of litter is surely deserving of an ice cream, right?
Use The Original Poop Bag Backyard Poop Bag to make it easier to collect poop and rubbish on your walks.
Recycle your food tins
Simple as that. Make sure you’re putting all your pet’s empty tins of food into the recycling bin. Why? Because aluminium and tin recycling provides many environmental benefits. Not only does it save energy, but it also avoids the mining of new Bauxite. Every year, recycling your cans can reduce the amount of Bauxite mining by 5 percent. Yay for the small wins! Bonus tip: you can also get eco-friendly can covers to cut down on any glad wrap you may use.
Use eco-friendly cleaning products in your home
Choose an environmental friendly product when it comes to cleaning pet mess within the home. Nature’s Miracle is one of the most popular, as they use zero harsh chemicals. Reducing the amount of chemicals you use in your home will not only be beneficial for you and your pet but also the surrounding environment, such as plants, which negatively impacted by household grade chemicals. Choose natural when it comes to grooming products as well. The WashBar range have everything you need to look after your pooch. It's also made right here in New Zealand!
Don’t throw away! Donate or repurpose
If you’ve got any blankets or towels your pet no longer needs, why not donate them to a local animal charity. The SPCA are always in need of donations for their centres and their charity shops, which will accept anything from furniture to clothing. Some shops will even pick up items from your home. You can also donate any lightly-used toys that your pet does not enjoy to your local animal charity.
Longer lasting toys
Opt for toys that last longer or are made with environmentally friendly materials. KONG and Nylabone have a wide range of long-lasting toys for your dogs - especially the big chewers. There is even an environmentally friendly
Have some old T shirts laying around that are too far gone for the op shop? Why not repurpose them into a tug toy for your dog? Check out the tutorial here.
Walk, instead of driving, to your destination
Instead of driving to the beach or park with your dog, why not walk? Car pollution is one of the leading causes of global warming because greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing worldwide temperatures to rise. If the destination is too far to walk, you could always explore some dog friendly areas that are within reasonable walking distance from your home. Extra time walking your pooch on leash is a great opportunity to do some training, so take your training lead and treats and practice perfect on-leash behaviour.
If you need any advice on becoming more eco-friendly, feel free to contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.