8 Eco-Friendly Dog Products You and Your Pup Will Love

July 8, 2020

July 8, 2020

editor's note:

I love my dog, but they seriously test my zero-waste lifestyle. Here are the products I've invested in that keeps both my dog and the planet happy!

Dogs bring an unmatched joy and happiness into our lives. After adopting my own dog six months ago, however, I found that he was seriously testing my zero-waste lifestyle. From cheap toys he would rip apart in minutes, to plastic packaging for training treats, I felt like I was backtracking on all my zero-waste progress. Research has shown that over their lifetime, the average dog has the same carbon footprint as two SUVs. Fortunately, there are tons of great companies out there helping to combat this issue. Below find 8 amazing sustainable products your dog and the planet will love!

1. Cycle Dog Collars

Average Rating:

★★★★★

Where to Buy:

Cycle Dog Collars' Website

Our Take:

We always talk about sustainable fashion and your pup is just as worthy of cute pieces that make positive impacts on the environment as you are. Think about what your dog is wearing and what high-quality replacement can you swap it out for when the time is right?
Cyclists and environmentalists unite! Cycle Dog uses discarded inner tubes from bikes to create fun, sustainable dog collars. Each collar is made in Portland, Oregon, where they have collected hundreds of thousands of rubber inner tubes that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. Their collars are waterproof, high quality, utilize recycled plastic, and some even feature a beer opener! There is nothing not to love about this company.

2. Mountain Dog Leashes

Average Rating:

★★★★★

Where to Buy:

Mountain Dog's Website

Our Take:

Leashes are a vital part of our animals' lives and we use them every day. Make sure to buy leashes of strong material that will last so you don't have to keep replacing them, and it's a bonus if this material is sustainably sourced or recycled!
These ultra-durable leashes are made from recycled climbing ropes, so you know you can trust them. Handmade in the USA, they are produced with a minimal carbon footprint. They believe so much in the quality of their leashes, they come with an unconditional lifetime warranty that even covers chewing, no questions asked!. This is the only leash you will ever need to buy!

3. West Paw Toys

Average Rating:

★★★★☆

Where to Buy:

West Paw's Website

Our Take:

Look for companies like West Pay that try to build lasting toys or even have nifty recycling systems in place to make sure that even though your dog is done with their toy, it can find new life as something else.
From puzzle games, to play toys, to furry toys, this certified B Corp company has it all.Their toys are made from their signature Zogoflex and IntellLoft material. Zogoflex is inherently reusable through their in-house recycling program. When your Zogoflex toy has come to the end of its life, send it back to West Paw and it will be recycled into a brand new toy! IntellLoft is made from recycled plastic fibers and has allowed them to recycle over 15 million plastic bottles. As if all of that isn’t enough, they store their finished goods in banana boxes which keeps them out of landfills. This Montana based company is sure to have a toy your dog will love and play with for a long, long time.

4. Buck Bone Organics Antler Chews

Average Rating:

★★★★★

Where to Buy:

Buck Bone's Website and Even Large Chains like Walmart or Chewy!

Our Take:

Dogs love to chew on anything, even if it's our favorite shoes! Let's make sure that what they're chewing and ingesting is safe for them and also not taking away from our planet.
Every year elk naturally shed their antlers and Buck Bone Organics saw this as an opportunity to create tasty chew treats for dogs! This family-owned business collects elk antlers and hand-cut them into different sizes for all dogs. They emphasize that they only take already shed antlers-- no animals are ever harmed. These treats are great for dogs that love to chew, help clean their teeth, and can last up to a whole week.

5. Earth Rated Poop Bags

Average Rating:

★★★★☆

Where to Buy:

Earth Rated's Website or Amazon

Our Take:

Let’s talk about poop. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified dog waste as an environmental pollutant, so it’s very important that pet owners clean up after their dogs. Dog waste contains bacteria that can be dangerous to humans and our ecosystem isn’t equipped to break it down.
Earth Rated offers poop bags that contain EPI additives, which helps the bags to break down in landfills. They also sell certified compostable bags that are made of vegetable starches, however it’s important to check if your composting service accepts pet waste. Their packaging is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. Yayy poop!

6. P.L.A.Y Dog Beds

Average Rating:

★★★★★

Where to Buy:

P.L.A.Y's Website

Our Take:

One way to mitigate your pet's impact on the environment is to forego traditional pet beds that are filled with items that eventually become a part of landfills, like foam.
P.L.A.Y (Pet Lifestyle and You) makes comfortable beds that your dog will love, and that are great for the planet! These dog beds are filled with 100% post-consumer certified safe recycled plastic bottles. On top of that, they are machine washable and dryer friendly which will help increase the lifetime of the beds (I think we all know there is nothing worse than a dirty, smelly bed that can’t be washed). With over 6 types of dog beds and multiple designs, you’re sure to find a bed to fit your dog's napping needs. Supporting them also supports their Warm Bellies Initiative, providing a warm bed to sleep on for dogs in cold shelters.

7. Open Farm Dog Food

Average Rating:

★★★★☆

Where to Buy:

Open Farm's Website

Our Take:

In the past few years, many people have reduced the amount of meat they consume over environmental concerns. Did you know that your dog may be contributing to climate change through their consumption of meat too? Research has shown that meat eaten by pets creates the equivalent of ~64 million tons of CO2 per year, which has about the same environmental impact as the fumes from 13.6 million cars.
Open Farm is combating the environmental impact of our furry friends by using only ethically sourced ingredients in their dog foods. They believe in animal welfare and sustainable practices. In fact, you can trace back the ingredients on every bag of food that you purchase. Open Farm also created the first nationwide bag recycling program to keep their packaging from ending up in landfills and are the first to introduce reusable packaging for two of their freeze-dried recipes.

8. DIY Dog Treats

Our Take:

Finding zero waste dog treats is difficult due to government regulations regarding consumables. An easy way around this, make your own dog treats! One of my dog's favorites is frozen chicken broth.
Chicken broth is great for dogs' joints, digestion, and overall health. There are tons of homemade chicken broth recipes out there for dogs, here is a super simple one to try out. You can collect bones from your kitchen, or try asking your local butcher if they have any bones they don’t need. I also like adding carrots and celery for added nutrients; just be sure to not include onion or garlic, as they can be toxic to dogs. After you make the broth and let it cool, simply pour into ice cube trays and freeze! For extra fun, add little pieces of carrot in the ice cube trays before freezing. Your dog is sure to love this scrumptious treat on a hot summer day!