People living with dogs spend more time in nature than the average person. In many cases this leads to an increased appreciation of the environment and a desire to protect it. There are many ways to be more environmentally friendly. On World Environment Day let's have a look at what we can do to be more eco-friendly.
First are poo bags. Cleaning up after your dog with a bag generates an enormous amount of plastic. If you use poo bags biodegradable ones might be a better option. Out in the countryside just leaving poo to decompose by itself might be tempting and that's what we did when I was a child. However, increasing awareness of the effects of parasites and bacteria in dog poo on livestock and wildlife has cast some doubt on the 'stick and flick' advice previously given by some large organisations. If you are really committed you can invest in a dog poo wormery in your garden.
The other thing is dog food and its packaging. If you are feeding kibble this is usually in plastic bags. I used to recycle these through a free, sponsored scheme by TerraCycle but sadly this has now closed. However, large supermarkets take back soft plastic packaging and clean dog food bags and pouches can go in there. Tins and cardboard boxes can go into the household recycling. If you choose a British dog food brand you cut down on food miles and production costs and support British farmers. Buying in bulk further decreases packaging waste and transport costs.
There are now many plastic-free dog toys available, and you can even make your own from items you already have at home such as old socks, empty loo rolls or old clothing. Environmentally-friendly dog grooming products such as shampoos are also becoming increasingly popular.
Finally, when out and about with your dog, why not combine this with a litter pick? Brain behind the Bark supports Paws on Plastic, a movement of dog people who aim to pick up at least two items of litter, predominantly plastic, during each dog walk. They even have their own Facebook group. Why not join in and protect the planet?
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