Pet owners can find that they have their work cut out for them when they want to reduce their pet’s carbon pawprint! That’s because cats and dogs contribute to waste in the household. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to minimize your pet’s negative impacts on the environment.
1. Choose Healthier Food to Reduce Carbon Emissions
One of the first things to consider when you want to minimize your pet’s carbon footprint is their diet. Pet food that contains more natural ingredients and fewer chemical additives will give your pet the necessary nutrients to live a healthier life. That means fewer trips to your vet.
Pro Tip: Natural pet food that uses fewer additives will also go through a more eco-friendly process. Look for pet food manufacturers that embrace sustainability efforts to maximize your efforts to lower your pet’s carbon emissions.
Learn more about how pet food affects your household’s carbon footprint here:
2. Clean Up Pet Waste Promptly
Picking up after your dog will help keep the landscape in your community clean and beautiful. More importantly, it will prevent pet feces from running off into waterways, contaminating the water that makes its way to local treatment facilities.
When it comes to cat care, you can embrace sustainability goals by looking for natural alternatives to chemical-based kitty litter. Consider these natural litter alternatives to reduce carbon emissions in your home:
- Paper pellets
- Wheat
- Wood shavings
- Walnuts
- Grass pellets
- Corn
Remember that cats can be finicky, so you may have to try several different alternatives before finding the right one for your pet.
3. Buy Eco-Friendly Grooming Products
Remember that buying pet deodorant or shampoo containing chemicals may not be healthy for the animal’s skin or coat. A product that contains chemicals will also harm the environment. Whether you’re rinsing your pet off in a bathtub or outdoors, grooming products with natural ingredients will be healthier for pets and wildlife.
Did You Know: Natural grooming products protect the environment by lowering the amount of harmful compounds released into our soil or waterways. There will be a reduced need for filtering or purification, helping to reduce carbon emissions that result from these processes.
4. Consider Your Pet’s Carbon Emissions When Addressing Indoor Air Quality
When you own a pet, it’s important to improve indoor air quality. Pet dander is a common allergen and pollutant. Yet, relying heavily on HVAC equipment for this purpose can inhibit your efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
To remain carbon friendly while pursuing better indoor air quality, use a variety of energy-efficient methods.
Keep your windows open whenever possible. Fans use less energy than HVAC equipment, so installing a few fans can help. Additionally, look for an air purifier with good energy efficiency.
5. Use Natural Products to Clean Pet Messes
It’s common to use chemical cleaners to remove pet messes and prevent stains. Unfortunately, these products contribute to your pet’s carbon emissions. Instead, look for natural products that are just as effective.
One suggestion is to replace ammonia-based cleaners with white vinegar. Mix baking soda with water to create a mild but effective cleaning solution.
6. Look for Sustainable Pet Supplies Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint
It can seem like a challenge to reduce carbon emissions while still investing in all of the supplies you’ll need for your pet. When buying collars, leashes, and bowls, look for products made from recycled plastic.
When you need fabrics or upholstered items, such as bedding, clothing, and blankets, look for products made from bamboo.
7. Spay or Neuter Your Pet to Reduce Carbon Emissions
Did you know that spaying or neutering your pet can provide benefits of energy efficiency? Think about your pet’s carbon emissions and multiply that by the number of kittens or puppies in a litter. Since most people lack the resources to care for that many pets, it’s better to guard against a pet pregnancy.
Additionally, there’s an overcrowding problem in animal shelters across the nation. Allowing a pet to breed without having homes for their offspring will contribute to this problem. Your local shelters may not have the resources needed to care for a full litter of unwanted animals.
8. Keep Cats Inside
Cats that go outdoors frequently will create energy waste as you open and close the door for your cat. In addition to helping you reduce carbon emissions, training your pet to be an indoor cat will decrease harm to wildlife in your local ecosystem. Even limiting your cat’s outdoor time to an hour or two will help ensure a more balanced local ecosystem.
9. Focus on Products With Recycled Packaging
In order to reduce carbon emissions for your household, you might consider shopping for green gifts. You can extend this practice to the toys and supplies you buy for your pets.
In particular, look for items that come in recycled materials. Even if the recycled material isn’t durable, you can transfer pet treats, food, and cleaning products to multi-use containers once you get them home.
10. Embrace Natural Pest Control to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Emissions
Pet owners waste a tremendous amount of energy vacuuming and shampooing carpets to remove fleas, ticks, and other tiny pests. Reduce your need for these practices by adding brewer’s yeast or garlic to your pet’s food.
These natural ingredients will make your pet’s skin taste unpleasant to pests. This will keep them from infesting your pet’s coat and your home’s carpeting.
Keep Your Pets Happy With Sustainable Alternatives
Employing these suggestions will help you maintain a more carbon-friendly home without sacrificing the happiness or care you provide to your pets.
Your pet won’t even notice when you replace traditional items with more sustainable alternatives. They will still feel comfortable, healthy, and loved as you do more to reduce carbon emissions and alter your home’s carbon footprint.
About the Author
Sarah’s love for home design and renovation runs as deep as her love for a good dad joke! 😄 She’s been crafting content with the fantastic folks at Ambient Building Products for years, and when it comes to homes, this gal is the real deal.
From DIY adventures to pro collaborations, she’s worn all the hats, and not just because she’s a fan of stylish headgear. In her own abode, she’s overseen her fair share of projects, making her a true home improvement aficionado.
But what really makes her heart skip a beat are those eco-friendly, energy-efficient upgrades that not only make your house look good but also feel good. Sarah’s all about adding value to your home, one pun and one project at a time! 💚💡