Going Green - Keeping your pets eco-friendly is good for the environment
Green campaigner and consumer expert, Angela Terry, separates climate change facts from fiction and explains how you can take simple, practical steps to help save the planet. Follow @ouronehome & visithttps://onehome.org.uk/ for more advice.
Q: How do I make my pet more eco-friendly?
A: We all love our furry friends.Sadly, the increasing numbers of domestic cats and dogs are having an impact on the planet.
Lockdown saw a dramatic rise in pet ownership.
According to animal charity PDSA’s 2021 survey, there are 9.6 million dogs and 10.7 million cats in the UK.
They create an awful lot of carbon emissions.
Trying to reduce your beloved pet’s carbon pawprint is a great idea.
Food
By far the biggest environmental impact comes from pet food.
Most is made from the by-products of intensively-reared meat.
Indeed, pets are responsible for about a quarter of global meat production’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Each year an area double the size of the UK is used just to make dry foods for the world’s cats and dogs.
Thankfully, an increasing number of eco-friendly pet foods are coming onto the market.
Yora offers dog and cat foods made from specially-reared grubs, while Lovebug makes insect-based cat food.
These grubs and insects are nutritious – as well as much more sustainable than cows, sheep or chicken, as they need far less land, food and water.
Their meat is also good for pets with allergies, as research shows that the most common allergens for dogs are beef, dairy and chicken – while for cats it’s beef, fish and chicken.
Some eco-conscious pet owners are opting for super sustainable plant-based food, especially for dogs, who are omnivores like us.
Brands include Benevo, Omni and Hownd.
Of course, you don’t need to serve up such foods every day, perhaps just a few times a week.
And always seek the guidance of your vet before making any changes to your pet’s diet.
Waste matters
More cats and dogs means more poo, which isn’t great news for the environment.
It’s good to consider how you dispose of it.
Environmentally, a plastic bag of dog waste isn’t actually that great an idea.
It’s preserving organic matter in ecologically harmful plastic and then sending it to landfill, where it can’t decompose.
You can buy compostable bags. Look out for the ones made from corn starch, as they don’t contain harmful microplastics. If you’re trying to save money, you can reuse plastic bags from your kitchen, such as cereal or bread bags.
In terms of cat litter, biodegradable versions are available. Natusan is made out of wood by-products from sustainable forestry – rather than the usual clay, which doesn’t biodegrade and is also responsible for deforestation and wildlife habitat loss when it’s mined.
Celebrity spot
London Fashion starts on February 18, British designers at the forefront of eco-conscious style.
Fashion legend Vivienne Westwood advocates avoiding overconsumption and buying high quality, sustainably made clothes.
Also, organic cotton, low-impact dyeing and sustainable fabrics – such as coir, from coconut hulls, and nettle-based materials.
Stella McCartney’s brand has always been about luxury eco chic. Her fur and leather-free designs feature recycled fabrics and forest-friendly viscose.
Green swap
In your coffee machine, swap single-use plastic coffee pods for refillable aluminium ones.