Green Pet Companies Contribute to America Recycles Day

Many industries have turned their attention to becoming responsible stewards of the environment. So much so that America Recycles Day is November 15. There are several green pet companies that have joined this line of thinking and developed very unique and revolutionary ways to lower the carbon footprint in all aspects of pet care. 

DogiZone decided to be one of these green pet companies and take advantage of these innovations to minimize the impact on the environment and maximize sustainability. 

Recycling Dog Toys 

In our DogiMarket, we will carry eco-friendly dog toys like the Zogoflex line at West Paw.  Made from recycled plastics and rubber, these toys are also recyclable after they have reached the end of their life and are no longer safe for the dog. The owners can send in the old toy, which is then recycled into a new toy. 

Packaging Options 

One of the more traditional changes that many pet food manufacturers have integrated is the use of paper bags and packaging rather than plastic. Dog owners feeding kibble have probably noticed this change over the last few years.   

The fresh food dog foods are moving to reusable or recyclable packaging, allowing pet owners to rinse out the packaging and recycle it with household plastics. A few companies are also providing consumers the option to bring packaging back to the place of purchase where it is recycled or reused through programs like TerraCycle. DogiZone will provide this service for our DogiMarket clients to encourage them to recycle their pet food packaging.

In addition to purchasing products in recyclable packaging, we use recycled paper bowls at DogiZone, which cuts water usage and offers a more sanitary feeding experience.

Sustainable Ingredients

Pet food companies are also moving to the use of sustainable ingredients. This is more challenging, but there are ways to choose grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and grains that are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. Open Farm, Merrick Classic Healthy Grains, Fromm Gold, and Orijen & Acana produce these types of food and will all be available for purchase at our DogiMarket.

The movement to natural foods or fresh dog food is also seen as increasing sustainability. Dogs require less food and tend to create less waste as more of the food is absorbed and utilized by the body. 

Dog Waste Issues 

Managing dog waste is always a concern. While laws requiring dog owners to pick up after their dogs may keep the parks and sidewalks clean, it also creates a huge increase in plastic bags in landfill sites. 

A few companies like Earth Rated sell biodegradable poop bags. These bags break down in about three to six months in a landfill or composting site. Plastic poop bags, on the other hand, take hundreds of years to decompose. While this doesn’t eliminate the dog waste issue, it does make it more manageable. 

DogiZone is Doing Its Part

In addition to offering the above-mentioned products on our DogiMarket shelves, we utilize the Prima Bathing System to reduce water usage. We’ve also partnered with Earthbath for our grooming products because they offer thoughtfully formulated products that are environmentally friendly and cruelty-free.  

Both of our buildings will have LED lighting, and the new DogiMarket features automatic occupancy light sensors. DogiZone has set a goal to be fully accredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition by the end of 2022.