Pawsitive Planet! Sustainable Pet Products For Our Furry Friends

Furred, feathered, fishy, scaled… The pets we choose are as diverse as our personalities. (And apparently, quite often we resemble each other.) But they all deserve to be cared for in ways guaranteed to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. Basically, to be loved – something most of us pet lovers go to great (often expensive) lengths to achieve! (Looking at you, ginger furball, claiming my just-washed bathrobe as today’s fave bed…)

But if you’re concerned about the environment, you might experience cognitive dissonance about the impact your favourite fluffy’s having on the planet. Most of us know about the extinction-level impact cats have on native wildlife when they’re allowed to roam. And recent Australian research showcases the grim results (like contributing to the eventual collapse of Tasmania’s Little Penguin colony) of allowing off-leash dogs to roam freely in parks, on beaches, and in restricted nature reserves.

Both of these issues can be solved fairly easily by responsible pet owners:

• Keep your cat indoors only (It’s much better for their health and wellbeing, too.)
• Preferably keep your dog on-leash when out and about, and ALWAYS follow leash laws, keeping your pooches as far away as possible from native wildlife or shorebird nesting sites. (Your dog may not be a ‘hunter’ but their presence can create such stress that nesting birds will abandon their eggs and chicks.)
• Make sure your pets have been desexed to avoid unexpected litters and potential strays.

If you’re looking to add a new furry family member to your household, consider adopting from a shelter first. While there are some ethical breeders out there, an adopted friend means one less animal that faces euthanasia (around 50,000 cats alone are killed in shelters and pounds every year in Australia), and it also discourages the breeding of unwanted litters, decreases wildlife disturbance and reduces the environmental burden.

Our pets’ other needs are more complicated: food, toys, bedding, accessories, and… wait for it… poo patrol paraphernalia. Turns out pets have quite the carbon paw print! So, what to do? Start by picking more sustainable pet products and eco-friendly pet accessories, and thinking outside of the (litter) box about waste disposal. We’ve gone digging to find some (by no means all!) of the brands that keep both pet welfare and planet front of mind.

Om nom nom

Next time your cat begs, ‘I can haz cheezburger?’, just go ‘no’ – the pet food industry contributes significantly to environmental impacts through land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. But demand for sustainable pet food products is growing, and many clever folks are working on solutions.

The folks at B Corp-certified Scratch are on a mission to overhaul dog food in Australia: from the supply chain to how it’s delivered, aiming to offer dog lovers a solution that’s good for your pooch, better for the planet, and easier for you. They donate 2% of all revenue to high-impact charities and nonprofits that focus on dog welfare or the fight against climate change as part of their Paws for the Planet Project. Scratch also kicked off The Dog Food Fund in May 2025, in collaboration with their impact partner, Sustainable Table, to back projects making the pet food supply chain more sustainable, local and regenerative. For their first project, they’ve funded a mobile butcher trailer in Victoria. Run by the folks at Kerrupjmara Meats in partnership with the Thamarrurr Youth Corporation, they’ll be training up First Nations youth from the NT to butcher and supply sustainable and locally-sourced cuts to the regional areas it’s needed most, ensuring that cultural knowledge and practical skills are passed down to the next generation.

Aotearoa brand My Furbaby’s packaging system uses recyclable and compostable materials and is designed to minimise the materials involved in getting pet food to a customer. Everything is sourced, made and supplied in New Zealand, using less carbon miles than imported brands. Certified plastic neutral, they donate a percentage of sales to support the removal of plastic waste from nature through rePurpose Global.

Open Farm source all their ingredients inline with their core values that all animals should be raised with kindness and respect. With wet and dry food for both dogs and cats, their beef is grass-fed, pork crate-free and fish wild-caught through sustainable fishing methods. They team up with Terracycle to recycle pet food bags, and partner with Ocean Wise – a conservation program created to educate and empower consumers and suppliers to make ocean-friendly seafood choices.

Ethically, sustainably and free-range farmed, Ziwi Peak follow the principle of kaitiakitanga – a New Zealand Māori concept of guardianship of the land and sea designed to protect the animals, the environment, and provide for future generations.

Lyka founder Anna Podolsky is on a mission to make all puppers healthy from the inside out. “Since day one, we’ve held ourselves to the highest environmental and social standards. We’re proud to be B Corp-certified, carbon negative, and single-use plastic negative. Even our kitchens are powered by solar energy. We have a dedicated sustainability guild focused on key environmental improvements, like reducing water waste and minimising biodiversity loss. While we work towards even better long-term solutions, we use high-quality offsets to ensure accountability.”

For our feline friends, grabbing some food from a supermarket dash with limited time and finances isn’t an easy feat when throwing sustainability into the mix. The Dine cat food range now has some products including sustainable tuna with Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation. “As consumers become increasingly aware of their environmental footprint, we strongly believe that feeding your cat should never come at the expense of the environment,” said Camille Shepherd, Mars Petcare Australia MD for Dine. Ultimates Indulge also have MSC-accredited tuna and salmon meals for moggies, as does Purina, with their grain free Beyond range.

What to do with all those empty pet food bags and pouches? Royal Canin are leading the way in providing a solution to stop them all ending up in landfill. Did you know you can recycle pet food packaging for free through their Recycling Program in partnership with TerraCycle? Drop off clean and empty dry food bags and wet-food pouches to participating RSPCA  locations, vet clinics and specialty retailers to be recycled via their program. And yes, any brand is accepted! TerraCycle then turns them into items such as park benches, dog agility equipment and frisbees. Fido playing fetch with a frisbee that once housed his favourite food? Circular economy at its best!

Waste not…

Have pooch, will travel? Please don’t leave home without your dog poop bags – and leave no trace post-park visit. (Every other person trying to enjoy the outdoors without stepping in doggy doo will thank you.)

Some great dog poop bags to look out for:

• Aussie-made Biobag’s compostable dog waste bags are certified 100% compostable at home or in landfill, leaves no toxic residues or traces of plastic behind, and will break down into organic matter wherever microorganisms are present, including on land and water (but please don’t dispose of them in water!)
• Oh Crap’s compostable poo bags are made from cornstarch, which breaks down fully in 6 months. Vegan-friendly, too!
• Beco Pets is a UK brand found in most major pet stores in Australia and New Zealand – their dog poo bags are made from 98% post-consumer recycled plastic.
• Frank Green’s compostable poo bags made from cornstarch won an Australian Good Design Award, and you can carry them in this cute pet poo bag holder.
• Talking about poo bag holders: Molly Barker’s dog waste bag holder’s so cool you might never take it off!

These cat litter brands do their bit for the environment:

• Aussie-owned company Eco 247 lists their core values as ‘sustainability, innovation, transparency, progress, responsibility, and convenience’. Besides their ‘Downunder’ toilet paper made from 100% bamboo, they create a series of cat litter products made from pea husk, cassava, and millet – compostable and low-impact. They also offer a zero-packaging bin exchange service in certain delivery areas, planting a tree for every three ‘bins’ sold.
• Rufus and Coco is a homegrown Aussie brand whose range of cat litter is internationally awarded, and made from ingredients like biodegradable corn, sustainable bamboo and flushable plant matter. They’re against animal testing and for the ethical sourcing of ingredients, partnering with the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation to help end unnecessary euthanasia in pounds and shelters.
• Catmate natural tofu cat litter is part of Proviro Group’s range of eco-friendly pet products: think bedding for horses and ‘mini mates’ like rabbits and hamsters, and shampoos and conditioners for dogs. Plus, they support the RSPCA with sponsorships, stock donations and at-cost cat litter.

Time to think outside the (litter) box? The EnsoPet Bokashi Pet Waste Composter lets you safely compost your pet’s waste in-ground – just dig a hole, assemble, bury, and add waste with the EnsoPet starter mix. The composter efficiently breaks down waste into valuable compost for the soil. Tip: do this in your ‘general’ garden, not in your veggie patch!

Bells and whistles

Toys, collars, coats, food bowls, cat trees… So many pet accessories, so little time. Which is the problem: products like toys, collars, and cat scratch pads don’t last, given wear and tear.

So, when choosing sustainable pet products you know will have to be replaced (fairly) often, ask yourself:

• Are they responsibly made from sustainable materials (preferably not plastic)?
• Do they upcycle existing materials or products in smart ways?
• Can they be composted, or are they biodegradable and don’t give off toxins while decomposing?
• Are they made with materials that last for longer?

And, of course… Are they cute? Because the hooded dog ‘towels’ and waterproof dog collars from Wet Dog & Co are super cute AND planet-friendly (nabbing a silver for best pet accessory in the 2025 Clean + Conscious Awards). They’re made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, shipped in compostable eco-mailers, and all tags are made from recycled or organic fabrics. They’ve also started making matching surf ponchos for humans – get ready to coordinate on your outdoor adventures!

For the discerning pooch, Houndsome offers a choice of comfy sportcoats, jackets, blankets, collars, and – yes – scarves and cravats, designed and made in Australia from sustainable Australian Merino wool. Molly Barker dials up the style with their swanky range of collars, toys, dog leads and travel beds. They use biodegradable and reusable packaging, and donate a portion of their profits from the sale of ‘Team Barker’ T-shirts and Sadie bandanas to Assistance Dogs Australia. Sunday Pet Jumpers is a Brunswick-based, woman-owned and operated business that makes fun, cosy custom pet jumpers by hand, using upcycled and reclaimed fabrics.

Outback Tails’ range of toys, collars and harnesses feature the artwork of Indigenous Australian artists from Valukurlangu and Ikuntji Arts Centres, and 10% of the sales go back to supporting the artists. Every purchase helps to raise funds for charities like the Aussie Desert Dog Rescue Program and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. (They’ve also recently been awarded Gold, Bronze and Editor’s Choice in the 2025 Clean + Conscious Awards, in the pet accessory and pet wash/care categories!)

Pawfect Pals is a family concern that’s all about ‘making fetch happen’. (Yes, we had a good giggle at that!) Their colourful pet harnesses and collars are vegan friendly and cruelty free, and they’re working to improve their packaging.

Trust Frank Green for cool pet accessories in fun colours and functional materials. Their range of pet collars for both cats and dogs, pet leads, bowls and accessories are made to last from materials like stainless steel and silicone.

Browsing your local pet store? Look out for toys and accessories from brands like these:

• Beco Pets is a UK-based business that takes doing better seriously. They’re Climate Neutral and B Corp certified, part of the Better Business Act Coalition, and donate 1% of their profits to Trash Free Trails via 1% for the Planet. Shop their toys, accessories and poop bags online or find them in most pet stores.
• B Corp Certified, US-based West Paw’s toys and accessories are available in most pet stores. They’re B Corp Certified, and use safe and eco-friendly materials to make their dog toys: no BPA, phthalates, latex, or silicone. They also repurpose old toys into brand-new ones, sanitising loved-up items before grinding them up and repurposing.

Of course, you can also make your own pet toys and accessories: the ultimate eco-friendly flex! And it just so happens that Peppermint’s rounded up a bunch of our favourite sewing patterns for doggos: head right this way to get inspired!

Catching z’s

Snooza follows a ‘slow fashion’ approach to crafting their comfy dog beds and mattresses: all beds are made to order from materials sourced responsibly from manufacturers within Australia. Snooza focuses on the longevity of their products, also providing a repair service for repairable damaged bed covers. And their Save-a-Bed scheme will “refurbish a retired bed” to donate it to a local pet shelter or refuge.

Who says pet accessories can’t be gorgeous? German brand MiaCara’s luxe range of cat and dog goodies are covetable AND planet-friendly, from stylish beds, baskets and blankets to innovative wall climbing units and litter trays! They build long-term sustainable partnerships with all their suppliers, offset their CO2 emissions, and use environmentally friendly and recycled materials in all products, like only using wood with FSC certification. Plus: they partner with Seaqual to craft products from recycled plastics taken from oceans and waterways. Product packaging is mainly made from recycled cardboard and paper.

Suds ‘n Dogs

In every pet’s life, G-Day comes… Even cats may need a wipe-down every so often! Grooming is an important part of keeping our furpals healthy, and it’s important to use sustainable pet products made just for them.

Ethique Beauty is one of the world’s highest-scoring B Corp businesses, and their mission to rid the world of single-use plastics also stretches to sustainable pet products: Shampooch shampoo and conditioner bars for dogs are vegan and cruelty free, made from ‘clean’ ingredients sourced from verified sustainable supply chains. No plastic in the packaging (which can be home-composted).

Aussie brand Koala Eco’s products vegan- and toxic-free certified, not tested on animals, part of 1% for the Planet… And their sweet marjoram and rosalina dog wash sounds like it smells delicious! It’s pH-balanced for dogs with sensitive skin, biodegradable, and safe for septic tanks.

Eco Dog’s eco-friendly grooming products are proudly made in New Zealand from human-grade ingredients free from toxic chemicals. They’re cruelty-free and use recyclable refill pouches to reduce single-use plastic.

Women-led, Aussie-based business Biome’s dog shampoo bars are palm oil-free and vegan-friendly. Shipped in recyclable/compostable cardboard packaging, too!

Bear and Kind offers shampoo bars, balms, and bribes (aka snacks – ha!) for pooches, all made from non-toxic, organic and plant-based ingredients that won’t irritate skin (or stomach). They’re cruelty- and plastic-free, too, and palm oil’s a no-go.

Got any other sustainable pet products on your radar? Let us know!