People consider their pets as part of their family, which is why we want the best for them, from the type and quality of the food we give them to where they sleep and which toys they have. All in all, they are a family member we all love and cherish, but when it comes to buying pet products, there are plenty of things to keep in mind. It all starts with understanding how much it means to buy products that are eco-friendly.
Now, many people overlook the importance of doing such a thing, and some even have trouble finding eco-friendly pet products, which is something we will help you with, as we will provide some tips on how to tell if the pet products you are buying are eco-friendly.
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Go through the stuff you already have
Before buying anything, make sure to go over things you already have. Namely, we would do most of the work pollution-wise simply by going through the stuff we already have, as just because there is something new doesn’t make it a much better, not to mention safer solution. Understandably, this applies to pet products as well, as there are simply way too many things we buy for our pets that they don’t use.
On the other hand, this is entirely normal as we care deeply about them, and when we do something nice and pretty, we simply “must” buy them that something. Now, no one says that you shouldn’t do so, but there is a fine line that no one should ever cross in such situations, and that’s buying way too many things just because they look cute or nice, which is a piece of advice we can all use in our everyday life, and not just for buying pet products.
Are they biodegradable?
Source: petique.com
We all want to save and preserve nature, but since that’s the case, why pick products that will eventually harm nature and our environment when there is no need to? Yes, plenty of products we all use are not biodegradable, meaning that they will pollute our environment, and pet products are no exception. That is why before making any purchase, you should always check the material from which that something is made, as it is the only way to be sure you are going with an eco-friendly option.
Above all, this is not something not that demanding or troublesome, as all you need is to set aside a minute or so to check the material and see whether it’s okay to buy it or not.
On the other hand, to avoid worrying about the product and whether it’s eco-friendly, you can always buy pet products from companies that only sell eco-friendly products. Yes, there are such companies and manufacturers, and this is even easier if you are more fond of online shopping, as there are thousands of websites to choose from.
Understandably, this doesn’t mean that the choice is simple, as there are plenty of other decisions to make, but knowing that you are buying eco-friendly pet products is the right start. All in all, these websites can save you a lot of time and nerves in finding the right product for your pet, and since there are many of them, the choice should be pretty easy.
Focus on local stores
As you can probably guess, there are plenty of benefits to shopping at local stores, and even though the main one is that you will support local businesses and help them grow and even expand, that’s just the beginning. Namely, there are plenty of benefits of being a regular, and since a local store is all about that, it gives us an advantage as we will know all the details about some pet products in advance. Besides that, when shopping locally, we can also order plenty of things we see online, and by doing so, help the business and still get an eco-friendly product we have wanted to buy for quite some time now.
All of that gets even more significant when it comes to food for our precious pets, as homemade pet treats are not something you can find in big pet stores. Another thing to keep in mind is the shipping, as the further away something is, the further it must travel to get to you, which gives a huge advantage to local stores as you can have almost everything you want at your disposal and at any time.
Source: littlethings.com
Take a look at the packaging
The packaging can say a lot about the product we are buying, and even though the product might be made out of eco-friendly materials, it would all be for nothing if the packaging is made out of plastic, for example. Yes, regardless of how silly this might seem, it’s something that happens pretty often, but surely not something you would want to experience.
That is why going through the packaging and checking whether it’s made out of eco-friendly materials or not is simply a must. Once again, shopping in local stores can prevent that, as you will always know the quality of the product and whether the packaging is made out of plastic or cornstarch.
Buying used items is always an option
There are opposite opinions about buying second-hand goods, and even though there are some realistic points for both sides, in the end, when you know what you are looking for and are aware of the quality of the product, there isn’t a reason not to buy used products. The same rule applies to pet products, and a good thing about already-used pet toys and items is that they are usually in great condition.
As for where to find such stores, make sure to check thrift stores, garage sales, and tag sale sites, and you will surely be surprised at all the things you might find here. Another thing to do is to ask friends and neighbors, as the chances are high they have some pet product they have no use for, but you will find it extremely helpful and nice.
