How to Reduce Your
Pooch's Carbon
Pawprint

Carbon Pawprint of My Pooch

Small Pooch

Approx 310kg CO2e per year

Average Size Pooch

Approx 770kg CO2e per year

Large Pooch

Up to 2,500kg CO2e per year

 

According to the New Scientist, the carbon footprint of an average sized dog is

twice that of an SUV driving 10,000 km per year.

 

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I could start by telling you how amazing dogs are, but I'm guessing you are only here because you already own a pooch, and I'm betting that you are already sold on the idea. So lets talk about ways that we can do more for the environment on behalf of our beloved furry friends.

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Food Packaging

Ensure all of your food packaging uses recycled materials. Ideally you want your packaging to be biodegradable or, even better, 100% compostable. Compostable products break down faster than biodegradable so there is less trash lying around in land fill. It will also dissolve much quicker if it were to ever make it's way into the ocean or our waterways.

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Diet

Most people like to feed their dogs because they can see how happy it makes them. But don't overfeed your pooch. Pet food is the highest contributor to CO2 emissions caused by animals. Check with your vet to determine the correct amount of food your dogs requires for it's size and age and stick to that.

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Avoid high-end human-grade food products. Dog's love animal bi-products, such as pigs ears or kangaroo liver, just as much (if not more) than human-grade food. Farming more animals to feed our pooches is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions. 

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Avoid beef products unless it's a bi-product of beef that humans won't eat. Instead, opt for fish or chicken. The carbon footprint of beef is way higher than fish or chicken.

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Buy locally Australian made pooch food. The emissions from the transportation of pet food is a significant contributor to overall emissions.

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Toys and Bedding

Try acquiring second-hand toys or bedding. If you can't then try to buy sustainable pet products. If you have toys that your pooch isn't interested in, try giving to another pooch that might enjoy it.

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We all love our furry friends and to many of us they are family. This article is not designed to scare anyone from getting a pet. It's here to make us aware and provide some simple tips on how you can help the environment by making a few small changes in your behaviour.

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