There have been countless debates over the sustainability of pet ownership. Fortunately, it is easy for pet owners and their furry friends to lead sustainable lifestyles. From employing efficient pet waste disposal methods to choosing healthy food options, there are many ways to reduce your pet’s environmental impact.
Buy Healthy Pet Food
Dog and cat owners can attest to the meat-heavy diets their pets consume. Those bulky bags of pet food you ordered online and traveled a long way means that commercial pet food is a major producer of carbon emissions. Some may even contain potentially harmful chemicals like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a preservative and carcinogen; tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP), a nausea-and diarrhea-inducing ingredient, and ethoxyquin, a preservative banned in Europe and Australia. Play it safe by consulting your pet’s veterinarian to determine what nutrients your pet requires. Consider buying healthier alternatives with ingredients you can trust, or learn to prepare pet food at home.
Make Smarter Consumer Choices
It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer variety of choices when shopping online for pet supplies like shampoos and toys. The sustainability of pet ownership, like human sustainability, begins with being a smart consumer. Buying chemical-free pet shampoo is a good place to start. Some of the chemicals that could potentially harm your pets are dyes, fragrances, parabens, sodium laureth sulphate, and stearalkonium chloride. You can even make your own pet shampoo with castile soap, olive oil, and vinegar. Choosing sustainable pet toys is another great way to reduce your pet's environmental impact. The lack of herbicides or insecticides make hemp and organic cotton pet products ideal alternatives. The concept of sustainability can even be extended to the products used to clean up after your pet. If your pet has a bathroom accident, it is good to clean it up with a natural spot and odor remover that reduces everyone's exposure to the dangerous chemicals some commercially available cleaners contain.
Have Proper Pet Waste Disposal Habits
Picking up after your pet is a key aspect of pet ownership. If you fail to do so, you could be indirectly endangering the water supply, and in turn, the environment. According to research by the Environmental Protection Agency, it was found that 90 percent of fecal coliform in stormwater came from dogs rather than humans. Using biodegradable pet waste bags is an excellent way to reduce your pet’s environmental impact. You can even go one step further by investing in an eco-friendly pet waste station. Not only is PawPail’s pet waste station innovative and durable, but it is also equipped with an activated carbon air filter that traps unpleasant odors and absorbs VOCs and harmful chemicals from the air.
Reduce Your Environmental Impact with PawPail
PawPail has the ideal solution for pet waste management that is convenient, hassle-free, and environmentally friendly. If you are a pet owner looking to lead a more sustainable lifestyle and/or seeking a better way to clean up your pet’s waste, look no further than our pet waste disposal system. Feel free to look through our product range or contact us to find out more.
