Pets are the gift that keep on giving, however, owning a furry friend comes with a lot of responsibility, not only for them but also for the environment.
As a pet owner it’s important to consider both your pet’s and your own actions and how they could potentially be impacting our planet.
Here are some simple tips from eco conscious company, Ecovibe, to follow on how you can become an eco-conscious pet owner.
Bulk buy products
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems when it comes to our impact on the environment, with tonnes of plastic washed on to our beaches and entering ecosystems every year, harming wildlife and habitats.
Buying in bulk, means buying less often and purchasing less packaging. Whether it be for their food, toys, or grooming products buying in bulk will help reduce plastic consumption and is a great step to becoming an eco-friendly pet owner.
Use compostable poop bags
Plastic poop bags are a menace for the environment as they often won’t decompose, consequently sitting in a landfill.
To combat this issue, pet owners can swap to eco-friendly pet products, such as compostable poop bags which break down over time and lead to less waste. Simply dispose of these bags at home in a compost bin, as they need light, oxygen, and moisture to be able to break down.
Switch to non-plastic toys
A quick and easy eco-friendly change is to swap plastic-based toys for non-plastic alternatives.
As pet toys go through daily wear and tear, they can become flimsy and thin, which unfortunately means they cannot be recycled.
This lack of recycling ability means many plastic products don’t ever actually disappear, but get smaller in size over the years, and are at risk of being consumed by animals. In fact, recent reports by UNEP state that there could be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050 if our consumer habits continue.
Look for natural and organic alternatives, such as those made from hemp and jute. These are both sustainable materials that can easily decompose, whilst staying fun and engaging for your pet.
Wash your pet with non-toxic grooming products
Look for natural and organic ingredients when selecting pet grooming products to avoid those that can be toxic to water systems and oceans when flushed down the drain.
Many grooming products on the market contain ingredients which can be harmful to the environment, such as synthetic fragrances, which can change PH levels of the oceans or SLS which can harm marine animals. Eco-friendly alternatives include aloe vera and essential oils.
Walk your pet nearby
Where you can, it is best to walk your pet locally as travelling by car or other modes of polluting transport for your daily walks will contribute greatly to your pet’s carbon footprint (and your own!).
Carbon emissions from cars, buses and trains are a huge contributor to global warming, which consequently destroy natural habitats and vital ecosystems. Avoiding these modes of transport where possible will help lower the amount of these emissions released.
It is easy to become a more eco-conscious pet owner and by following these simple steps you will not only be reducing plastic consumption, but doing your part to lower your pets carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment.
