Eco-friendly [fur]babies
Our pets. For so many of us, they are an integral part of our families and our lives. A house is not a
home without a chosen animal to share affection with. And as of last year, 65% of us felt that way, having at least one pet at home.* Check out my three and I am sure they will elicit some "oooh"s and
"aww"s. The daily happiness they bring is incalculable, to both ourselves and those we share them with.
However, so too, is the potential amount of plastic and waste they contribute to our households. Well, perhaps not so incalculable. It is estimated that dogs and cats alone are responsible for generating up to 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses each year, due to the amount of meat that is required to manufacture their food.** And then there are the food bags themselves, the bags of treats, bags of litter, bags for picking up poop. And these are just some of the common items familiar to dog and cat owners.
Once more, we could become overwhelmed even knowing where to start reducing our plastic footprint. How to begin? But there are some simple ways to begin minimizing the amount of waste that is associated with your furry (or not so furry) friend. Check out some of the suggestions below to get you started.
Compostable poop bags. I ran into a woman on the street last weekend as we were both walking our dogs. She was chatting with her friend about a new something-or-other she had started using when I realized she was talking about the compostable poop bag in her hand.
"I decided I couldn't spend a dollar for 60 of the black plastic bags anymore," she told me. She also added that, since her dog is so small (half the size of one of my cats, I'd estimate), she can often use one bag for two pick-ups. Which, based on the cost per unit difference (compostable vs. non-compostable) for the brand of poop bags I buy (compostable refills, unscented), means she's breaking even. Win-win.
Bring your own container. Have a pet that feeds off insects? Consider taking your own container to the store or keeping the one you just picked up during the last food run for reuse.
Make your own treats. Not only does this help reduce waste, it can be healthier for your pet too. Apple, carrot, and sweet pepper slices are some of my dog's favourites. A friend and former co-worker of mine purchases ingredients to make her own treats for her dog (which her cats also crave). And there are also always bulk loose snack options in bins at the pet store nearest me. We pick up a couple each week as part of our walks to help keep teeth clean and add glucosamine to my dog's diet.
So give one (or more!) of these a try. Pick one thing and start there. Because, if we do not owe it to our own species to take care of our planet, we certainly owe it to those we share it with.
*https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/0703-biz-dd-pets-fpe
**https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/4/16094674/cats-dogs-meat-diet-greenhouse-gases-climate-change
"aww"s. The daily happiness they bring is incalculable, to both ourselves and those we share them with.
However, so too, is the potential amount of plastic and waste they contribute to our households. Well, perhaps not so incalculable. It is estimated that dogs and cats alone are responsible for generating up to 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses each year, due to the amount of meat that is required to manufacture their food.** And then there are the food bags themselves, the bags of treats, bags of litter, bags for picking up poop. And these are just some of the common items familiar to dog and cat owners.
Once more, we could become overwhelmed even knowing where to start reducing our plastic footprint. How to begin? But there are some simple ways to begin minimizing the amount of waste that is associated with your furry (or not so furry) friend. Check out some of the suggestions below to get you started.
Reducing pet-related plastic
Bulk litter. Some pet stores offer bulk litter using a bring your own container process or providing paper bags. CB Pet Food & Supplies, for example, is a local-to-KW option worth trying. A word of caution: wherever you find bulk litter, double-check that it isn't just the result of the business dumping plastic bags into a larger bulk-option supply container.Compostable poop bags. I ran into a woman on the street last weekend as we were both walking our dogs. She was chatting with her friend about a new something-or-other she had started using when I realized she was talking about the compostable poop bag in her hand.
"I decided I couldn't spend a dollar for 60 of the black plastic bags anymore," she told me. She also added that, since her dog is so small (half the size of one of my cats, I'd estimate), she can often use one bag for two pick-ups. Which, based on the cost per unit difference (compostable vs. non-compostable) for the brand of poop bags I buy (compostable refills, unscented), means she's breaking even. Win-win.
Bring your own container. Have a pet that feeds off insects? Consider taking your own container to the store or keeping the one you just picked up during the last food run for reuse.
Make your own treats. Not only does this help reduce waste, it can be healthier for your pet too. Apple, carrot, and sweet pepper slices are some of my dog's favourites. A friend and former co-worker of mine purchases ingredients to make her own treats for her dog (which her cats also crave). And there are also always bulk loose snack options in bins at the pet store nearest me. We pick up a couple each week as part of our walks to help keep teeth clean and add glucosamine to my dog's diet.
So give one (or more!) of these a try. Pick one thing and start there. Because, if we do not owe it to our own species to take care of our planet, we certainly owe it to those we share it with.
*https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/0703-biz-dd-pets-fpe
**https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/4/16094674/cats-dogs-meat-diet-greenhouse-gases-climate-change
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