From recycling our waste, taking shorter showers, to cutting down on our home energy use, there are lots of ways we can go green. But how can we include our pets in a greener lifestyle? Below are four ways you can go green with your pet to help protect the environment we live in. We hope you find this article interesting. Enjoy!
1. Compostable Bags
The next time you are on a dog walk and your best friend poops, why not consider using 100% compostable bags. These fully compostable bags are great for the environment as they are made from vegetable matter like potato or corn starch which is fully broken down. In comparison, many plastic poo bags can take anywhere from ten to one thousand years to fully decompose when they are dumped in landfills. Plastic bags begin as fossil fuels and end up as toxic waste in landfills and perhaps in the ocean which has a devastating effect on marine life. When plastic bags slowly perish under sunlight, toxic substances are released into the soil which can have a severe impact on the wildlife and the ecosystem.
2. Bulk Buy Pet Food
Bulk buying your pet’s food really helps to reduce multiple trips to the supermarket and the high number of plastic packaging ending up at landfills. A great way of helping to protect the environment is to ensure you only buy products packaged in recycled or recyclable materials. Many leading brands are now doing this which is great, so shop around and choose a brand that is fully eco-friendly and one that your dog finds appetising. Another great green tip is to store your dog’s food in reusable recycled storage containers instead of plastic crates!
3. Support Green Pet Industry Manufacturers
You may also be interested in buying pet products made from recycled materials. Reusing the fabric in old clothes means less resources, both monetary and environmental, are wasted in growing fibres for new ones. Similarly, why not also consider other greener ways of protecting the environment, like buying certain second-hand cat and dog accessories and products. You can support individual pet industry manufacturers on platforms such as eBay or Gumtree who often sell their unwanted pet leads, collars, cat and dog beds and other products they may have available. This is not only a great way of saving money, but it also helps to keep those products from ending up at a landfill. By donating and buying second-hand dog accessories and products, you are reducing the size of landfills and therefore the levels of pollution.
4. Recycle Pet Food Containers
Why not consider recycling your dog’s food containers? Many dog food cans are made from steel or aluminium, and these can be safely deposited in your recycling bin after your dog has finished with them. Make sure they are properly cleaned before you put them in the recycling bins as food will often attract birds and other animals. Remember all recyclable materials should be clean otherwise they can be rejected by your waste collection contractor.
Closing thoughts
We hope you found these eco-friendly pet tips helpful. By following these green tips and others online, we can help make a positive impact on the environment. By going green with your pet today, you will help build a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow for future generations of pets and their owners.