We talk about reducing our carbon footprints all the time at EcoVibe, but what about pawprints?
In the UK, it’s estimated that 12 million of our households have a pet and we think they’d love your help reducing their pawprint. Whether you’re a dog lover, a cat fan, or just love animals, your pet has a carbon footprint, too!
Here, we talk about how you can reduce your pet’s carbon footprint, and what products we offer which can help you do that. From adopt don’t shop, to compostable poop bags, we’ve got it covered!
Adopt, don’t shop, or buy sustainably!
Every pet has the same emissions as a vehicle so by adopting you reduce the number of pets that are bred and end up as strays or in shelters. It’s also a huge ethical and environmental improvement.
Plus, pets up for adoption are often already house-trained, which means no single-use training pads for your puppy or kitten.
Adopting isn’t always an option for some species, though - when buying wild-caught fish, look for those that have been hand-caught with nets as opposed to chemicals.
Ways you can reduce your pet’s waste!
One of the easiest steps for you to take in reducing your carbon footprint is managing your waste, and the same is true for your pets! If you have aquatic pets, their dirty water can be used to nourish houseplants or your garden, rather than wasting it.
We have a great swap for when you have to pick up after your pooch. Around 8 billion poo bags are binned every year and can take a really long time to decompose. Our biodegradable, compostable poop bags are made in a zero-waste facility that runs on wind power. They’re also totally vegan, and we even have cat litter liners too!
Switch up their diet
Making swaps in your pet’s diet is a great move, but it’s one that needs to be done carefully to keep your pet healthy. If your pet is healthiest when it’s able to eat meat, go for protein options that are more sustainable than red meat, such as fish or insect-based food. Yep insects are a great source of animal protein!
When buying your pet food, regardless of it having fur or feathers, go big or go home! Bulk buying food saves on packaging waste is less expensive per portion, and you’re contributing to fewer emissions through shipping.
For sustainable snacks for your pets, grow your own - wheatgrass is a great snack for rabbits, guinea pigs, or cats, and can be grown indoors or outdoors. It helps to clear the air, too!
Ditch plastic toys for more eco alternatives
Playing with your pets is just as good for your well-being as it is for theirs! So why not make playtime as ethical as you can? For our canine friends, it’s easy to forget that lots of their favourite squeaky toys and balls are made of plastic - harmful for the planet, and potentially harmful for them too.
There are plenty of alternatives on the market that swap to materials such as recycled cotton, hemp, or bamboo - our Puppy Gift Box contains handmade toys which are ideal for small dogs. It’s 100% cotton too, and the packaging is totally recyclable!
When in doubt, recycling household waste is a great way to provide hours of fun. Any cats, rabbits, gerbils, and rats will have a great time with simple cardboard boxes.
Let your pets take after their owners!
Living in a way that’s more ethical and sustainable has a domino effect on every area of your life - including your pet-owning skills! Developing sustainable living habits in your home life extends to your pets’ life, too.
We’ve all got used to carrying our own water bottles and making the most of free water bottle refills but why not do the same for your dog? Our new water bottle even doubles up as a pet bowl to keep your pooch hydrated and healthy!
So, we’ve talked about how your pet contributes to CO2 emissions, and what you can do to minimise those emissions. Making some pet product swaps, properly disposing of your pets’ waste, and making ethical swaps that you and your pet can adopt can make a world of difference.
If you do change up your pet-owning habits with any of these options, we love to see it! Let us know by tagging us on social media or dropping a comment below.