Subscribe & Save
Subscribe & Save
Top Sustainable Dog Products with a paw-sitive impact
Did you know that the collective environmental pawprint of pets is massive? It's true. A pet's diet produces the majority of their carbon footprint.
Dogs and cats requiring meat to eat creates the equivalent of 64 million tons of carbon dioxide a year! This is the same climate impact caused by 13.5 million cars during a year’s worth of driving. Crazy right?
Sustainability is becoming more important globally. However, as we strive for a greener lifestyle, we might overlook the impact of our furry household members.
You might believe it's tough to balance your sustainability aims with providing your dog the quality products they deserve. Luckily, this isn’t the case as sustainable dog products are the future. Remember, even the smallest of changes can make a big difference over time!
Within this article, we explore the top sustainable dog products available that have a paw-sitive impact on the environment.
Kevin Noble via Unsplash
Sustainable Dog Products
At WOOOF, we team up with brands who share the same goals and aspirations, especially when it comes to sustainability. Read on to find out some of our most recommended sustainable dog products for every aspect of your dog’s life. This includes food, grooming, toys, beds, and much more.
Sustainable Dog Food
As we said earlier, what we choose to feed our dog is usually what causes the largest environmental impact. Feeding most pets meat requires a significant amount of land, energy, and water for production.
In fact, pet food production, packaging, and disposal contribute to a substantial eco-logical footprint. Estimates suggest that this accounts for a quarter of the environmental impacts of meat production. The pet food industry as a whole emits more than 106 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
Traditional dog food often contains meat sourced through intensive farming that leads to deforestation, significant greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. So how can we make changes that will help combat this negative impact?
Insect Protein
One sustainable dog product that is becoming increasingly popular is insect protein. In fact, demand for insect protein for pet food could hit half a million metric tons by 2030!
Now, you may be thinking something along the lines of ‘that’s disgusting! I don’t want to feed my poor dog insects!’ But insects are actually a great source of animal protein for dogs and are highly digestible.
Research in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that insects can contain double the protein per 100g compared to beef. This suggests that insect-based sustainable dog products have an advantage in terms of pet nutrition. Not only that, but they are hypoallergenic making them a great choice for doggo’s with sensitive stomachs.
If that doesn’t convince you maybe the Vets will. Were you aware that The British Veterinarian Association has approved insect protein as a sustainable dog product? They advised pet owners to purchase dog food made from insects to reduce pollution, conserve water, and safeguard the environment.
This is because the production process of using insects for pet food generates significantly lower greenhouse gases than livestock farming does. For example, research has shown crickets produce 80% less methane than cattle. Based on a 2017 Dutch Review Study, insect farming offers advantages over livestock farming. Benefits include reduced land and water use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, efficient feed conversion, and minimal waste.
To begin, we suggest trying Insects for Pets Dental Sticks made with insect protein to prevent plaque and tartar in dogs. See, it is a sustainable dog product useful for dental care too!
If insect protein doesn't convince you, there are still other sustainable dog food options available. Buddy Dog Treats are eco-friendly and made from natural ingredients like Duck & Rosemary, Ostrich & Blackberry, Crispy Salmon, and Lamb Crunch. These dog treats feature only the highest-quality meats.
Likewise, Denzel’s Dog Treats are baked in carbon-neutral wood-chip ovens using locally sourced fruit that would have been wasted. Denzel's delightful sustainable dog products come in packaging that is entirely biodegradable and suitable for home composting.
On the other hand, you can consider Lily's Kitchen dog food, which vets approve and dogs love. They use proper meat and only natural ingredients for complete and balanced diets. As a B Corporation, Lily’s Kitchen truly cares about the environment. Therefore, with everything they do they try to tread carefully on the planet pets and humans love so much.
Sustainable Dog Poop Bags
Did you know that dog poop bags can take up to 100 years to degrade in landfill once thrown away? It’s true! The good news is though, is that there are many biodegradable and compostable alternatives that are better for the environment.
Give A Sh!t Home Compostable and Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags are made from plants, not harmful materials. The ingredients are responsibly sourced and consist of corn starch and compostable polymers. This makes them a zero-waste green alternative that will change the way you look at everyday dog supplies.
A similar product are the Compostable and Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags by Planet Underdog. These doggie poop bags are compostable and decompose fully without producing any toxic residue when they break down.
Sustainable Dog Grooming
Whether your doggo is very furry or not, grooming is a part of a healthy and happy dog’s life. When it comes to dog shampoo, many common ingredients used are potentially harmful to your dog’s skin and coat. Retailers often sell them in plastic bottles, which contribute to pollution and harm the environment. However, it doesn’t have to be this way!
WAP dog care products are natural and organic. These innovative grooming sustainable dog products ensure minimal waste and environmental impact, with each ingredient produced under the best possible conditions.
We suggest using WAP: 6 Fur Wash Sensitive. It's a gentle, scent-free shampoo that helps with sensitive and damaged skin and fur. Due to the caring properties this shampoo uses, it is also perfect for puppies!
We also recommend the handy Biodegradable Multi-Purpose Dog Wipes for general every-day use. Enriched with goodness, these wipes excel at thorough full body cleaning.
Double-Sided Eco Bamboo Dog Comb and Dog Brush
A particular eco-friendly favourite of ours here at WOOOF. The bamboo dog comb and brush by Bamboo Switch are plastic-free, vegan, and do not irritate the skin. This makes them perfect sustainable dog products for all dogs – especially sensitive puppies!
Sustainable Dog Collars, Leads, and Harnesses
Eco-conscious pups still want to look good, right? Thankfully, dogs can be sustainable but still maintain great style. Dog collars, leashes, and harnesses can reduce waste and have a smaller environmental impact when made from sustainable materials.
For dependable and sustainable dog products, consider starting with B Corporation, Project Blu Dog Collars, and Leads. Project Blu creates eco-friendly dog products using recycled and reclaimed materials. These products are comfortable, durable, and effortlessly fashionable. The brand combines European craftsmanship with innovative materials to achieve this.
The Eco Leather Dog Collar and Eco Leather Lead are crafted using sustainable ELeather and Duratex Fabric. A premium sustainable leather and fabric combination, up-cycled from unused leather and ocean-bound plastics. This means they are high-quality, strong, and reliable, whilst still being smart and stylish!
Alternatively, The Painters Wife leads, collars, and harnesses are also very popular with our customers. The eco-conscious brand cares for dogs whilst caring for the planet.
This commitment to sustainable fashion and climate protection becomes evident through their durable, long-lasting products. The Painters Wife commitment begins with GREEN PAW. A project that focuses on sustainability in three main areas: Planet, Product, and Community.
For an innovative and unique option, we recommend the eco-friendly Bendyl Upcycled Dog Collar and Lead. Handmade in the Netherlands, this brand uses old firehoses and up-cycles these into stylish dog collars.
Buddy’s Dogwear makes sustainable dog products using premium natural materials like French cowhide, canvas, cotton, and Italian rubber. They ensure animal and environmental well-being by using leather and fabrics in a thoughtful manner.
Sustainable Dog Toys
As a dog owner, you've probably seen how puppies enjoy eating and destroying their toys until they're barely recognisable! That’s why it’s vital to choose sustainable dog products that do not contain toxic chemicals. For example, avoiding dog toys made from oil-based plastic protect your dog and the environment from plastic pollution. So, it’s really a win-win scenario.
B Corporation, West Paw have a tail-wagging variety of sustainable dog products to choose from. This includes chew toys and frisbees made from non-toxic and chewable Seaflex ocean-bound plastic waste.
West Paw's dog toys are non-toxic, FDA compliant and BPA, Phthalate and Latex-Free. You can also recycle the toys multiple times by returning them to West Paw. They will clean, crush, and transform them into new toys repeatedly!
Similarly, SodaPup have a wide range of sustainable dog products made with materials that are FDA compliant, non-toxic, and biodegradable. The SodaPup Treat Dispensing Dog Toy is sustainably harvested. It helps to reduce carbon footprint, along with the SodaPup Flying Saucer that shares the same benefits.
For the more destructive chewer, SodaPup Magnum Black Stars and Stripes Ultra-Durable Rubber Chew Toy is a great option. It will help your doggo fight boredom and keep them entertained for hours!
The brilliant Project Blu have also made a sustainable Soft Dog Bone Toy made from Duratex Fabric. A combination of ocean-bound plastic bottles and eco-friendly cotton, to help sustain our planet. This eco-friendly dog toy is gentle on dogs' mouths, suitable for dogs of any age, thanks to the materials used.
Sustainable Dog Beds
Dogs love nothing more than a good slumber. Therefore, it presents a good opportunity to buy more sustainable dog products for your home.
Synthetic materials used in many traditional dog beds harm the environment. This is because materials such as these can take decades to breakdown in landfill.
Did you know eco-friendly dog beds also reduce your dog’s exposure to harmful chemicals. Synthetic dog beds can contain chemicals that could cause your furry pal an allergic reaction, respiratory problems, and skin irritations. But by opting for a natural, eco-friendly dog bed, you can ensure your pup gets a healthy sleep.
One of the best eco-friendly dog beds we have to offer is Project Blu’s Dog Cushion Bed Goa. This is because it is fully sustainable and made from Duratex Fabric. Similar to their other sustainable dog products mentioned above!
We also recommend dog beds made from the popular boucle fabric. The Boucle Fabric Bed for Dogs is both cozy and durable, designed to withstand wear and tear over time. Making boucle fabric a great sustainable dog product.
Sustainable Dog Products from WOOOF
At WOOOF, we strive to have all our dog products benefit the world in at least one way. We have made it extremely easy for you to shop and keep the planet in mind. Just visit the WOOOF Conscious section on our website to see the full variety of sustainable dog products and brands. Simply filter on the right tab for ‘eco-conscious’ brands and ‘eco-friendly’ products.
Generally, being eco-conscious and eco-friendly implies improved practices for the environment and the people involved in producing the items. So, you can rest assured that you are making better eco-friendly choices when you choose sustainable dog products.