Sustainable pet products are not only healthier for our furry friends but also kinder to the planet. Everyday items like pet food and cat litter can have a significant environmental impact, and choosing responsibly-made alternatives can make a positive difference. As you work to reduce exposure to microplastics and toxic chemicals in your home, don’t forget about pet toys, shampoos, and other products that might affect your pet’s health. Explore a variety of non-toxic, eco-friendly pet products below to keep your companions happy, healthy, and safe.
- Aquariums/Tanks
- Eco-friendly pet beds
- Natural cat litter
- Eco-friendly dog collars & leashes
- Pet carriers & crates
- Sustainable pet food
- Natural pet treats
- Sustainable pet food packaging
- Plastic-free pet bowls
- Pet medications
- Non-toxic pet grooming
- Pet odor eliminator and stain remover
- Biodegradeable dog poop bags
- Potty training
- Eco-friendly pet toys
- Final thoughts on sustainable pet products
Aquariums/Tanks
Sell, donate, or give away unwanted tanks. Recycle glass from broken tanks with other glass recycling.
Go Green: Use energy efficient electrical equipment
Try to find energy efficient heaters, pumps, filters, and other equipment for aquariums and tanks. Instead of fluorescent lights, use LED bulbs, which use up to 90% less energy. Read more tips and products suggestions from Bulk Reef Supply, which was a favorite store of mine when I had a saltwater tank.
What to do with old or broken equipment
Sell or give away via hobbyist forums. Recycle any broken or unusable equipment should be disposed of with other e-waste.
Eco-friendly pet beds
Go Green: Upcycle bedding; pet beds with natural, non-toxic materials
Go cheap and easy an upcycle old pillows or blankets for your furry friend. If you can sew, make a cover for pillows for easy cleaning. My mom sewed me a cover large enough to hold 2 pillows for a larger size pet bed.
Sustainable pet bed options include:
- West Paw makes pet beds and blankets made with OEKO-TEX certified toxic-free materials. The filling is composed of recycled materials.
- Brentwood Home pet beds are Greenguard, Certi-PUR, and climate neutral certified.
- Molly Mutt has an interesting idea for their bed: it is a 100% cotton duvet cover that you stuff yourself with old unwanted pillows, towels, or clothes etc, thereby keeping these things out of landfills.
- The catcaveco makes hilariously adorable cat caves from ethically sourced wool. If I owned a cat, it would definitely have one of these.
- Petique makes cat houses from FSC-certified cardboard; some also come with reversible scratchboards.
Natural cat litter
Go Green: Plant-based cat litter
Most cat litter is made from clay which, although a natural material, is not biodegradable or compostable—think about the clay pots archaeologists find from ancient civilizations. Once thrown in the landfill, cat litter will never break down.
Furthermore, the mining of this clay, called bentonite, creates significant environmental issues. Two million tons of bentonite destined to become cat litter are mined every year with strip mining, a process where all trees, plants, and topsoil are removed to access the clay, resulting in dust, erosion, increased flooding, and loss of habitat for wildlife. Natural minerals are lost and sediments can get washed into, and thus polluting, bodies of water.
Crystal cat litter, aka silica gel, is also procured through mining processes with similar detrimental effects on the environment, and is also not biodegradable or compostable.
Eco friendly cat litter is composed of all-natural and biodegradable materials, obtained much more sustainably than mining. The best natural cat litter brands include:
- Sustainably Yours plant-based, fragrance-free cat litters use only two ingredients: corn and cassava.
- World’s Best Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Corn Cat Litter is made from corn kernels.
- Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter comes from wood fibers.
- Naturally Fresh Multi-Cat Unscented Clumping Walnut Cat Litter makes theirs from walnuts.
- Tuft and Paw uses a soybean byproduct to create their flushable cat litter.
- Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter litter is made with recycled paper with added baking soda for odor control.
Apparently cats can be finicky about changing their litter. Therefore experts suggest mixing the ratio between the old and new and slowly increasing when trying a different cat litter.
Is cat litter compostable?
As mentioned, clay cat litter is not biodegradable or compostable. Even though natural cat litter options is, you should avoid composting for use near edible plants. I personally would not do it in any situation. Cat waste can contain bacteria or parasites that are harmful to humans, and these can contaminate both soil and waterways. Flushable cat litter should not be flushed, no matter what the package says. This is one waste stream I think is best to send to the landfill.
Eco-friendly dog collars & leashes
Go Green: Use collars and leashes made from natural materials
Synthetic fibers are fossil-fuel based and contribute to microplastic pollution. Learn more about sustainable fabrics here.
- The Good Dog Company makes products with a blend of organic cotton and hemp, which are biodegradable. They sell collars for both cats and dogs, leashes, and harnesses.
- Wagging Green Pet Shop has many choice of bamboo collars, leashes, and harnesses. In addition, they have a recycling program where you send them old, beat-up collars or leashes of any brand and they will reuse the hardware to make you a new one for 25% off and free shipping.
- West Paw makes collars and leashes from recycled plastic bottles, as does United by Blue. Although not made from natural materials, it does give more life to existing plastic.
Pet carriers & crates
You’ll be hard pressed to find pet carriers that aren’t made of plastic, but choosing a brand such as Petmate is probably the best choice. Their dog and cat crates are made from 90% recycled plastic.
- Petique makes many carriers for cats and dogs. They do not have any eco-certifications but report that their products meet ASTM Chemical Standards.
- Safety 1st pet gate is made from bamboo and recycled plastic.
Sustainable pet food
Pets consume 20% of all meat worldwide, and this consumption is responsible for the release of up to 64 million tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Go Green: Steer clear of premium foods; avoid beef as much as possible
According to an article by Smithsonian magazine, pets consume about 25% of the meat in the United States; their diets generally contain higher amounts of protein than human ones. Cats do need primarily meat to survive, but dogs are omnivorous and can have plants mixed into their diet.
Premium foods aren’t necessary; many of them use meats that are even higher quality than that for humans. This creates competition with our own food system, which is already a huge environmental problem–the raising of cattle is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions as well as the biggest cause of deforestation on the planet.
I know we all want the best for our furbabies, but our pets don’t need choice cuts and are perfectly content and healthy when eating organ meat.
Sustainable pet food brands
Some pet food companies are utilizing protein sources other than traditional meats and poultry.
- Jiminy’s uses insects like crickets as the protein-source in their foods.
- Chippin also uses crickets but also adds silver carp, which is an invasive species in some areas.
- Catit is another company utilizing insects, especially for cats. They also include chicken or herring.
- Companies like Wild Earth and Petaluma are creating all plant-based foods.
- Others are currently researching lab-grown meats.
If you would like to do more reading about the environmental impacts of pet food, I suggest these articles from the The Guardian, The Conversation, and Time.
Natural pet treats
- Shameless Pets makes treats for cats and dogs from upcycled food they save from being wasted.
- West Paw treats are made with grass fed, free range, antibiotic and hormone-free beef. They also offer bison and chicken; all are additive and preservative free.
- Petaluma baked treats are all made from organic, plant-based sources, packaged in compostable packaging.
Sustainable pet food packaging
Go Green: Buy food in bulk as able
Eco-friendly pet food packaging isn’t really a thing, as just about all pet foods are packaged in plastic. There are only two ways to avoid plastic pet food packaging that I have discovered:
- Buy bulk pet food. Fill your own containers at a local pet store with bulk offerings or grocery store like Winco.
- Make your own pet food. The challenge of making your own food is time and ensuring you are created a healthy, balanced diet for your pet. But done right, this option can not only eliminate packaging but it gives you control over clean, quality ingredients and will likely be less expensive than kibble. Read tips on making your own dog food and cat food.
Recycling pet food packaging
If you can’t tear the paper holding your pet food, it can’t be recycled with your regular recycling. If the pet food bag is labeled plastic #2 or #4, you can recycle it with your other plastic film recycling. Metal/tin cans are recyclable.
- If you live near a Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash location, they accept all brands of any species of pet food and snack packaging for recycling through Terracycle.
- Some locations of PetSmart have recently begun accepting in-store packaging drop-off for recycling. As of now locations are limited, but hopefully this will expand quickly. Check whether your local store is participating in this program.
- Terracycle does have a handful of free mail-in programs for certain brands, click here to see if the brand you use is one of them. If not, they sell a zero waste box to recycle any brand and size of pouch, bag, box, or container used for packaging pet food, treats, and vitamins.
Plastic-free pet bowls
Go Green: Upcycle a dish; use a non-plastic bowl
- Upcycle an old bowl or dish, or buy one at a thrift store.
- Buy a bowl made from metal or stainless steel, such as Yeti Dog Bowls, made from 18/8 stainless steel that is third-party tested for the absence of BPA, phthalates, or lead.
- Beco bowls are made from bamboo and other natural materials.
- Free the Ocean Patterned Bamboo Dog Bowls made from bamboo and rice husk.
- Tall Tails Wood Designer Dog Bowl is a wooden bowl with a stainless steel insert.
- If you need a collapsible dog bowl for when you’re on the go, look for those made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone rather than plastic. Carabiner clips are a nice extra feature. The Mighty Paw Collapsible Travel Dog Bowl Set (2-Pack) is a great example.
Pet medications
Go Green: Donate unused pet meds or dispose responsibly
Where to donate pet meds
Check with local animal services, shelters, and vets to see if they will accept unused pet meds (non-controlled substances) and supplies.
How to dispose of unused pet meds
As with human medications, you should not throw expired or unused medications in the trash or down the sink or toilet because they contaminate drinking water. To get rid of unwanted or unused medications, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends local disposal options.
Check for periodic take back evens in your community, or find one of the many locations that offer fixed drop-off collections. These include many pharmacies, such as Walgreens or CVS, and other controlled substance drop off locations. If you are nowhere near any drop off locations, follow these instructions for safe disposal.
Read more from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Non-toxic pet grooming
Eco-friendly pet brushes
Go Green: Choose plastic-free brushes and combs
- Mighty Mutt Bamboo Double Sided Combo Brush or Bamboo Slicker Brush – bamboo handles and stainless steel pins. Available at Grove
- Only Natural and Bamboo Groom each has a selection of pet brushes and combs made with bamboo, boar hair and nylon bristles or stainless steel pins.
- Brush with Bamboo BAMBOO FLEXIBLE SLICKER PET BRUSH – This brush has a bamboo handle with carnauba wax finish, stainless steel pins, and a natural rubber base.
- The Natural Bamboo Pet Brush on Etsy is completely plastic-free and vegan. It has a bamboo handle, natural rubber base, stainless steel pins on one side, and sisal bristles on the other.
- This Redecker Handcrafted Cat Brush is made with beechwood and boar bristles.
It’s probably not something that you’ve ever thought about, but fur and hair can be composted. So when you clean brushes out or clean fur off of your clothes or furniture, you can put it into the compost bin. You can also donate hair and fur to an organization like Matter of Trust, who uses it to make mats that soak up oil and other petrochemicals from waterways.
Natural dog shampoo
Go Green: Clean, natural ingredients
Just like our own hair care products, the best dog shampoo is made of non-toxic and natural, plant-based ingredients, free of potentially harmful chemicals, which include:
- Sulfates, including Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
- Parabens – any ingredient with -paraben at the end
- Silicone, most commonly dimethicone
- Phthalates – usually listed as Diethyl Phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)
- Formaldehyde or Formaldehyde-Releasing Agents
- Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs) – commonly listed as PEG-100, PEG-40
- Synthetic Fragrances – look for fragrance-free or products scented with natural essential oils instead
Learn why these ingredients should be avoided and what to look for in clean hair care products for humans here.
Natural pet shampoo brands
- Puracy Pet Shampoo is cruelty-free and contains 99.5% natural, plant-based ingredients and are free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, dimethicone, phosphates, petroleum-based products, silicones, formaldehyde/formaldehyde releasers, dyes, or synthetic fragrances (Puracy only uses essential oils).
- Mighty Mutt makes hypoallergenic, anti-itch pet shampoos from all-natural, plant-based ingredients. Made in USA, 100% vegan and cruelty-free formula. Free from sulfates, parabens, dyes, phthalates.
- Wild One Rinseless Shampoo – vegan, hypoallergenic, 99.4% natural, and paraben and sulfate (SLS) free. Made without artificial colors, fragrances, or chemical detergents.
- Pure & Natural Pet shampoos and conditioners contain a variety of USDA Certified Organic ingredients, including oils, and are free of parabens, sulfate, formaldehyde, and synthetic dyes. Fragrance-free and hypoallergenic options are offered.
Plastic-free dog shampoo options are minimal. Your best best is to go with a pet shampoo bar, such as the plant-based soaps made by Ethique.
The only plastic-free liquid soap I have been able to find is Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap. One of its 18 listed uses is pet shampoo. Make sure you are purchasing their newer refill carton option rather than the plastic bottle most of their products are packaged in.
Eco-friendly pet toothbrush
Petique has a bamboo toothbrush that can be composted at the end of its life. Other toothbrushes can be recycled with human ones through Terracycle’s free programs. Read more about toothbrush recycling here.
For eco friendly dog toothpastes, see this article by Treehugger.
Discover zero waste oral care options for humans here.
Reusable fur & hair remover tools
Say goodbye to those wasteful tape lint rollers and get yourself a reusable fur remover.
- Uproot Clean Pet Hair Remover
- Chom Chom Roller
Plastic-free lint roller options include:
- Redecker lint brush – beechwood handle with natural rubber bristles
- Ruri’s Portable Lint Remover – copper head and beechwood handle
- Fur-Zoff Pet Hair Removal Tool – made from recycled glass
Remember that pet hair/fur is compostable.
Pet odor eliminator and stain remover
- Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator – This enzyme spray has 110K+ reviews on Amazon; I’ve used it on carpet spots and it works like a charm. Odor is gone and the dog doesn’t return to the spot.
- Puracy Pet Stain & Odor Remover
- Also available at Amazon
- Ecos Pet Stain & Odor Remover
Plastic-free pet stain remover
Paw Sense Pet Stain & Odor Remover – a great natural pet stain remover composed of enzymes and a lemongrass scent sourced from 100% essential oils; packaged in a glass bottle
Plastic-free all-purpose cleaners that list carpet under their usage instructions:
- Meliora All-Purpose Cleaner
- Dr. Bronner’s Castile Liquid Soap (make sure you get their new plastic-free carton)
Biodegradeable dog poop bags
There are many compostable dog waste bags out there, or at least ones that claim to be. Make sure you read what they are actually made from. A few good choices are: They are made from cornstarch, plastic-free and compostable, with recycled paper cores and packaging.
- Greener Walker – made from cornstarch
- G.A.S – TÜV AUSTRIA Home Compost Certified cornstarch poop bags are packaged in a box and reel made from 100% recycled cardboard.
- Sir Waggington’s – unscented bags made from cornstarch and PBAT (biodegradable copolymer)
Earth Rated poop bags are made from 65% certified post-consumer recycled plastic. Buy at Amazon / Grove
To hold your compostable dog waste bags, check out United by Blue‘s cute mini-backpack dispenser made with recycled plastic. Or G.A.S. has a cotton canvas bag with stainless steel attachments and velcro made from recycled plastic.
Potty training
A friend who fosters dogs, as well as owns a dog walking company, swears by Pet Parents Washable Dog Diapers.
- Also available on Amazon.
Eco-friendly pet toys
Go Green: Buy toys made from natural materials
West Paw is a certified B Corp based in Montana who makes toys from recycled materials, among other products. When your dog is finished with one of their toys, you can send it back and they will sanitized it, and grind it up and create a new toy from it.
My goldendoodle, Lola, approves.
Another company that creates toys from recycled materials is TAGdogtoys, which makes toys made from repurposed fire hoses.
While I like what both of these companies are doing, the best sustainable pet toys are plastic-free and made from natural materials. It seems obvious, but I never really gave this any thought before. But I realized as my dog was destroying her Nylabone, she was most likely ingesting tiny pieces of plastic. Gross!
- Betterbone is a fantastic plastic-free alternative to Nylabone. These bones only have 2 ingredients: PEFC sustainably forested wood flour and renewable sugarcane oil, both food-grade. Lola adores these bones; I definitely recommend the ‘hard’ over ‘soft’ for aggressive chewers.
- Awoo dog toys are made sustainably-sourced natural materials that include GOTS organic cotton and RWS certified wool felt. Products are manufactured in factories that prioritize worker safety, fair wages, and product quality.
- Earth Rated Enrichment, Tug, Fetch and Treat toys are made of responsibly-sourced PEFC certified natural rubber.
- Tall Tails has toys made from natural rubber or natural leather.
- Cost: $10.99 to $27.99
- Sold at numerous locally-owned pet stores / Amazon
- The Good Dog Company hemp rope toys
- Cost: $11.99 to $18.99
- The familiar red Kong Classic toys are made from all natural rubber.
- Oregon Antler Works sells elk antler chews, sourced from naturally shed antlers.
- Cost: $9.25 to $49.95
- PetFusion has cat scratchers made from recycled cardboard. Petique‘s cat scratchers are made from FSC-certified cardboard.
- Try Etsy for unique dog and cats toys made from natural materials
Final thoughts on sustainable pet products
By choosing non-toxic and sustainable pet supplies, you’re not only protecting your furry friend’s health but also contributing to a healthier planet. Small changes, like opting for eco-friendly pet food, toys, and grooming products, can make a significant difference. Explore the options . Explore the options and find products that align with your values and your pet’s needs to take important steps toward a greener, healthier lifestyle for you and your beloved companion(s).