Going Green: 5 Ways to Becoming An Eco-Friendly Pet Owner
Recycling, choosing environmentally friendly products and reducing food wastage are all ways in which our society has taken steps towards being more environmentally conscious. However, did you know that you and your furry pal can also go green? Read on to find out what are some of the simple choices you can make in your pet ownership so that both you and your best fur-iend can easily become far more eco-friendly than before!
Play it Green
Source: Source: Martha Stewart
One of the biggest components for many pet toys are plastics and other non-biodegradable materials. While these colourful toys may seem like fun, durable playthings that your pet may enjoy, they take a very long time to decompose. Moreover, they normally consist of chemicals that may harm your pet if ingested and are bad for the earth as well. Instead, opt for toys and accessories such as leashes and collars made from biodegradable and natural materials.
Waste Management
Not cleaning up your pooch’s poop is not only inconsiderate, but the toxic waste is eventually swept into water bodies by rain. This contaminates the nation’s water sources and could lead to far more dire consequences as the bacteria in the water builds up over time. Cat litter often includes chemicals that could harm the environment so opt for natural materials in your kitty litter such as wheat or wood which are more eco-friendly.
Greener Grooming
Just as with kitty litter, most of your pet grooming products like shampoo, soap and toothpastes contain chemicals that are toxic for the environment as they’re washed down the drain and into the water supply. These strong chemicals are also abrasive for your pet’s sensitive skin and over multiple uses, could develop into a more serious medical condition. Avoid grooming products with artificial fragrance, phthalates, formaldehyde preservatives, isothiazolinone preservatives, paraben preservatives, cocamide-MEA, SD Alcohol 40, polyethylene glycol(PEG) and choose products with natural ingredients as much as possible.
Eating Eco-Friendly
While you don’t have to purchase organic food for your pets, most pet food production strains resources and even contributes to greenhouse emissions. Try to get pet food from sustainable sources and if possible, cook for your pet! This way, both of you will be eating sustainable food and it’ll be a healthier option since you can control how it is prepared. Check with your vet on what you can and should feed your pet before trying this!
Packaging Properties
As with your own purchases, try to recycle the packaging of your pet’s products, be it the plastic bottles of shampoo or the cans that its food came in. Even better, you can get creative and use some old things as homemade toys or bring a reusable bag to get pet products. You may also want to buy in bulk if you have a regular purchase as this uses less packaging materials.
These are all options that will not only benefit the earth, but your pet as well. By reducing the amount of artificial components and chemicals be it in your pet’s diet, accessories or grooming materials, you can help to save the environment while keeping your pet safe. It’s easy to incorporate these green habits into you and your pet’s routine and making it part of a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle.
