What is Eco-friendly for Dogs?

Where to begin?

What is Eco-Friendly for Dogs?

“If your pup had a choice, would he pick Eco-friendly or non Eco-friendly?”

Where to start? On the positive side, there are many materials considered to be Eco-friendly from which products for pups can be made. On the not-so-positive side, it all gets very confusing very fast. But, in the name of progress over perfection, a step in the right direction moves us forward, rather than back…

Eco-friendly = not harmful to the environment (per the Oxford dictionary)

So, the key, in part, is finding materials that are considered to be not harmful to the environment. Or…as we seem to be discovering…not as harmful to the environment. With all the creature comforts our pups have become accustomed to, we’re probably not quite ready to change the dog beds out for a pile of leaves in the living room.

Again, it’s coming down to a step in the right direction.

Three general categories are a great place to start:

· Sustainable

· Biodegradable

· Recycled

With a fourth – reduced impact – in the running for consideration. Moving the needle up the dial...

Pups for Sustainability

Sustainable products are developed (at least in part) from materials that are not depleted from the planet, and can easily (relatively) be regrown at a rate comparable to depletion to maintain an Eco-balance. Ideally, they are Eco-friendly from start to finish, from raw materials to their final resting place. Eventually – and ultimately – not leaving even a paw-print.

The golden child for sustainability in terms of a renewable resource has been bamboo for quite some time. It grows at extremely quickly, can be leveraged for both hard and soft goods, and can biodegrade. The wild card here is how the raw material is transported (it’s lightweight, which can help reduce a carbon footprint) and processed – being a natural substance, toxic chemicals are often used for preservation and in the manufacturing process.

Food dishes, as well as dish holders, hammock bed frames, dog clothing and bed covers can all be found made out of bamboo just for the Eco-friendly pup.

Returning to a Natural State

“One of the best things about dogs: they are their natural selves. Shouldn't their products be, also?”

Biodegradable products. Quite possibly the most contentious label in the market, biodegradable products are not always biodegradable, or so it would seem. Conditions of disposal vary, and what may well decompose in a relatively short period of time under “normal” testing conditions, doesn’t always in a compressed landfill with no air or microbes. As such, perhaps the most commonly thought of biodegradable pet product – a poop bag – is not. At least as far as federal regulators are concerned.

To qualify as biodegradable, a product must degrade – completely – and return to nature within a reasonably short period of time (one year) of being disposed of, with scientific research to back it up. Products must meet USDA and ASTM (D6400) standards.

The most common biodegradable dog products are made from various plant materials, known to decompose and not the harm the environment. Provided they’re disposed of correctly. The Eco-friendly enthusiast may want to add one more “need to have” product to their list: a pup byproduct decomposer.

Leather, compared to some of its substitutes in the realm of faux leather, may also be considered more Eco-friendly. It does decompose, usually within 50 years, which will not win it any biodegradable labels. Fifty years, however, is much shorter than the estimated 500 years required for human-made substitutes.

This is one where the processing (tanning, in this case) weighs heavily on just how Eco-friendly (or not-so-Eco-friendly) a product may be. Best to look for metal-free vegetable tanned products for your Eco-friendly pup. And new entrants in terms of plant-based vegan leather, rather than traditional poly-based products, are beginning to pop up on the market as alternatives.

Collars, leashes and harnesses, along with some items of apparel, such as boots, may be found in vegetable tanned leathers, or even some of the newer plant-based alternatives. Hardware on the pieces is also important to check into, with stainless steel being an Eco-friendly choice, given it is 100% recyclable.

Getting Creative

Ah, recycled products. Meeting Eco-friendly requirements in terms of reducing harm to the environment by not simply sending cast-off, non-degradable products to the landfill, but, instead morphing them into new and usable products.

Both soft goods and durables may be found made of recycled products. Plastic in particular is leveraged frequently, helping to chip away at the ever-growing number of plastic bottles entering landfills. Sustainafill™ and PlanetFill® (or similar brands) are made from recycled soda bottles and are a popular choices for the filling in Eco-friendly dog beds. Depending on your pup’s size, and bed size to match, choosing a bed with this as an insert could keep anywhere from four to one-hundred plastic bottles out of landfills (or oceans!).

If your pup is more the outdoorsy type, there are also dog houses that can be found constructed from post-consumer recycled plastic and recycled wood fibers. The look and feel is comparable with their traditionally-made counterparts, and they are durable and waterproof. And if you’re looking to have them blend with the environment (or your décor), most can be painted, as well.

Perhaps the easiest and most affordable way to ease into the Eco-friendly purchase path is to start with a new collar for your pup, one made from recycled plastic. They’re relatively affordable (less than $30), come in a plethora of sizes and colors – from classic to fashionable – are durable and keep their good looks for quite some time. Plus, they hold up well in water, making them the perfect choice for bath time. Choose a matching leash to complete the look.

And it doesn’t stop here. With new Eco-friendly materials being developed at an increasing rate, several green innovators have started taking new spins on traditional products as well as developing new ideas with the pups in mind.

The Earth Pup is looking forward to seeing what’s around the corner!