Few things in life can compare to the joy of owning a pet. However, learning how to live a sustainable lifestyle requires pet owners to understand how they can satisfy their animals’ needs without causing harm to the environment.
Like humans, pets have a carbon print that can cause rapid environmental degradation without proper management. This article will explain the best techniques pet owners can apply to ensure sustainability for their animals and the environment. Let’s dive in.
Switch to more eco-friendly pet supplies
It is practically impossible for animal owners to learn how to live sustainably without switching to more eco-friendly pet supplies. Food is one of the main pet supplies that can harm the environment. Carnivorous pets like cats and dogs often contribute to environmental degradation by consuming large portions of unethically-sourced processed meat.
Such meat is harmful to the environment because of the greenhouse gases that accompany its production. It would therefore be wise to select eco-friendly pet supplies that are sustainably and ethically produced.
Make homemade toys and treats
Making homemade toys and treats is one of the best ways to be sustainable in pet care. Such toys and treats should be devoid of non-degradable materials like plastics. Instead, you can use cardboard to create DIY play areas and accessories for your animals.
You can also recycle old home items like tissue tubes, plastic bottles, and paper bags by repurposing them into functional puzzle feeders and foraging toys for your pets. Such a move will help you reduce the plastic build-up of purchasing new synthetic miniature objects for your pets.
Clean up after your pet, and be sure to dispose of their waste responsibly.
Cleaning up after your pet and disposing of their waste responsibly is a significant contributor to sustainable living. Pet waste can harm the environment without proper cleaning and disposal by exposing water bodies to toxic bacteria that negatively affect aquatic and human life. Such waste can also cause noise pollution to the environment through its unpleasant pungent smell. Experts recommend using biodegradable litter boxes and poop bags when getting rid of your pet’s waste.
Research pet-care providers near you who are committed to being sustainable
Another fantastic way to take care of your pets sustainably is to identify and engage eco-friendly pet-care providers. You can identify these providers by finding out whether they use sustainable products in the day-to-day running of their businesses. You could also determine if they have a training program that continually teaches their employees about sustainable living.
This type of training is vital in conveying the importance of sustainability beyond the staff to the community. It is also wise to evaluate your pet care providers’ network to determine if their primary stakeholders, including suppliers and investors, are sustainability champions.
Use reclaimed or upcycled materials when making beds and litter boxes
Using reclaimed or upcycled materials when making beds and litter boxes is an excellent way to achieve sustainable pet ownership. Ecological experts recommend switching from clay litter boxes because of the environmental harm accompanying their strip mining retrieval process.
Pets can also develop health problems if they accidentally ingest bits and pieces of litter box clay. The best-upcycled materials for making your pets’ beds and litter boxes include paper, coconut, wood, corn, and wheat.
Look for locally-sourced pet food and treats
Sourcing your pet foods and treats from local providers is a fantastic way to achieve sustainable pet care. Such a step will eliminate the enormous carbon emissions from long-distance transportation. It would also be beneficial for pet owners to ship locally unavailable items in bulk to avoid the increased emissions accompanying separate shipping.
Use natural cleaning products
Although we cannot fully control when and where our pets decide to mess, choosing the type of cleaning products to use is within our grasp. Using natural cleaning products is an excellent way to achieve eco-friendly pet care. Such products will keep you from the health issues likely to come when toxic artificial ingredients find their way into your pet’s internal body system. Using natural chemicals will also prevent the artificial toxins in processed products from polluting the environment and negatively affecting ecosystems. Some of the natural items you can use when cleaning your pets’ mess include lemon, baking soda, and vinegar.
Donate your old pet supplies
Donating old pet supplies to local shelters is an excellent way to achieve sustainable living. Such a move will drastically reduce the amount of waste going into landfill while helping animals in shelters to live better.
Conclusion
There has never been a better time to achieve sustainability than today. You can breathe a fresh lease of life into Mother Nature by allowing your pet care routine to impact the environment positively. All you need is to follow the steps in this article, and you will be on your way to a life-changing experience with your furry four-legged friend.
