Sustainable Fido

A recent article in Sierra magazine details an inconvenient truth about the pet industry: more than 300 million pounds of plastic waste is produced by Big Pet every year, and 90% of that ends up in landfills and oceans. Seven states, including California, have extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies designed to shift the burden of waste management onto producers, making them financially responsible for the entire life cycle of their products.

If you have a beloved animal companion, here are ways you can create a more circular pet economy:

Look for companies that will re-purpose used dog toys, like West Paw and Benebone.
Create a pet gear library or join one in your community; used dog gear like collars and leashes can be found on Facebook groups like Buy Nothing or Marketplace.
Donate gently used collars, bowls, toys and beds to animal shelters.
Buy products from companies who keep waste out of landfills, like Chewy who is using less filler material like air pillows and more biodegradable and recyclable materials.
Ask pet companies to commit to using less packaging and supporting drop-off hubs, prepaid shipping labels and repair warranties for used products.

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Posted by Donna Gerhauser