How can I reduce my pet’s carbon pawprint?

Many of us treat our four-legged companions like much-loved family members.

But do you ever think about your furry friend’s impact on the planet? Whether you own a tiny kitty, or huge huggable hound, your pet has a carbon pawprint. And it might be much bigger than you think…

What’s a carbon pawprint?

A carbon footprint (or pawprint in the case of your pet) is the total amount of greenhouse gases that are generated by our/their actions.

According to carbon offsetting company zerosmart.co.uk the footprint of an average size dog is around 770kg of CO2e per year. While a bigger dog could create a footprint of up to 2,500kg per year. In comparison, your kitty generates an average of 310kg of CO2e per year.

To put this into perspective, zerosmart says that, annually, a dog can have a considerably higher carbon footprint than a car, especially if your pet has a very meat -intensive diet. Eek!

The good news is that much can be done to reduce your pet’s pawprint and help the planet.

Food for thought

UCLA researchers calculated that meat-eating by dogs and cats creates the equivalent of about 64 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, which has about the same climate impact as a year’s worth of driving from 13.6 million cars. In response, the has been a rise in the number of meat-alternative pet food available. A quick Google search will help you work out which pet foods are better for the planet. 

Wipe right

Many pet owners use pet wipes. They’re super handy for cleaning up your pet after a messy day of play. Or to clean behind their ears or other places where they may not be able to clean themselves and can cut down on bath times.

However, 90% of UK wipes contain plastic, which can take up to 100 years to degrade in landfill.

That’s why we launched Pura’s 100% plastic-free pet wipes so you can keep your pet clean without leaving a mess for the planet. Made from plant fibres, the 100% biodegradable wipes are cruelty-free and contain no alcohol or other nasties.

Pawfect for dogs and cats. Gentle on your four-legged companion and the planet, they contain mild cleanser and no nasties.

Sustainable play

We all love playing with our pets, and it can be a great way to keep them mentally stimulated. Yet some toys aren’t as fun for the planet. To keep their pawprint tiny, look for toys that are made from recycled materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. 

Pet offset

You can help counteract your pet’s impact on the planet with an offsetting company like zerosmart. From around £11 per year, you can make your pet carbon neutral by donating to climate positive projects and tree planting.