9 Best Eco-Friendly Pet Products – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
By Jessica Kim
Updated on
Switching out your current pet supplies with eco-friendly alternatives is an effective way to live a more sustainable lifestyle. These days, nearly every kind of product has an eco-friendly version. While some eco-friendly products may not be durable or long-lasting, there are plenty of options that perform just as well as, or even better, than their non-sustainable counterparts.
We have reviews of some of the best eco-friendly pet products that you can switch to quickly and easily. These products are sure to help you shop consciously while keeping your pet happy and safe.
A Quick Glance at Our Favorites of 2024
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Ion Fusion Severe Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer |
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Best Value
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Earth Rated Compostable Dog Poop Bags |
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Best Value
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Okocat Original Premium Cat Litter |
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Check Price |
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Petsmont Organic Dog Paw Balm |
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SunGrow Coconut Fiber Chew Toy |
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Check Price |
The 9 Best Eco-Friendly Pet Products
1. Ion Fusion Severe Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer – Best Overall
| Pet Type: | All pets |
| Key Features: | Naturally derived, biodegradable, non-toxic |
Our favorite and best overall eco-friendly pet product is Ion Fusion’s Severe Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer. While this cleaner is marketed toward cat and dog owners, it’s a great essential cleaning product to have in any home.
The formula uses naturally derived, non-toxic ingredients. So, it’s safe to use around both children and pets. It works on multiple surfaces and has a powerful formula that can effectively clear away urine, feces, vomit, and grease. However, it may not completely clear up old cat urine.
Along with being an eco-friendly formula, this cleaner also comes in a reusable bottle. So, it’s truly an all-around environmentally conscious product.
- Clears away urine, feces, vomit, and grease
- Works on multiple surfaces
- Naturally derived and non-toxic ingredients
- Reusable bottle
- May not clean up old cat urine
2. Earth Rated Compostable Dog Poop Bags – Best Value
| Pet Type: | Dogs |
| Key Features: | Unscented, compostable |
Using eco-friendly dog poop bags is one of the best ways to shop consciously. Fortunately, you also don’t have to spend a fortune on disposable bags. Earth Rated Compostable Unscented Dog Waste Bags are the best eco-friendly pet product for the money and provide an easy and quick way to be more environmentally responsible.
These poop bags are a simple switch as they fit in most standard poop bag dispensers. The bags are durable and leakproof while being biodegradable and compostable at the same time. They also lock in odors and are unscented, so you’re not walking around with odors and artificial scents.
The only drawback about these bags is that they may not be large enough for large and giant dog breeds. So, you’ll probably have to use a couple of them to pick up larger pet waste. They have a shelf life of 12 months so check your packet is fresh or they may be more likely to tear. They are slightly more expensive than some others but being compostable gives them more earth friendly credits.
- Unscented, odor locking bags
- Leakproof
- Biodegradable
- Too small for large and giant dog breeds
- 12 month shelf life
3. Okocat Wood Clumping Cat Litter – Premium Choice
| Pet Type: | Cats |
| Key Features: | Biodegradable, sustainably sourced, unscented |
Cat litter is one of the most frequently used cat products. So, using an eco-friendly alternative can be a great way to be environmentally conscious.
Okocat Original Premium Wood Clumping Cat Litter is a plant-based cat litter that uses biodegradable wood fiber. The material is also sustainably sourced and responsibly rescued.
The wood fibers contain natural enzymes that absorb and block cat urine and feces odors on contact, leaving your home smelling nice and clean. The litter also clumps quickly, so you don’t have to worry about urine seeping to the bottom of the litter box.
Another great thing about this cat litter is that it’s dust-free and free of any artificial fragrances, synthetic chemicals, toxic dyes, and GMOs. So, while it’s relatively expensive compared to other cat litter, it’s a premium, high-quality product that’s also safe for the environment.
- Uses biodegradable wood fibers
- Absorbs and blocks odors
- Clumps quickly
- Dust-free
- No artificial fragrances or synthetic chemicals
- Relatively expensive
4. Petsmont Organic Dog Paw Balm
| Pet Type: | Cats and dogs |
| Key Features: | Plant-based, biodegradable, Organic |
Paw balm is especially helpful to have around the house if you live in an area with cold, dry winters. Petsmont Organic Dog Paw Balm uses 100% natural organic, non-toxic ingredients, so it’s both an eco-friendly and safe option for young and old pets.
This paw balm works to soothe and moisturize paws, noses, and itchy skin. The formula is non-greasy, so you don’t have to worry about your pet slipping around and injuring itself after application.
Available in a 2oz pot you may need to re-purchase frequently if you are using it a lot.
- Natural, non-toxic ingredients
- Non-greasy formula
- Excellent with soothing and moisturizing paws and noses
- Relatively small pot
5. SunGrow Coconut Fiber Animal Chew Toy
| Pet Type: | Small mammals |
| Key Features: | Biodegradable, organic, dental hygiene |
Another great way to be an eco-conscious pet owner is to buy sustainable pet toys that you consistently have to restock. The SunGrow Coconut Fiber Chew Toy is a great example of a toy that’s eco-friendly. It’s made with natural coconut fibers that are completely safe for small pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, and mice.
The toy offers a good texture for pets to chew on, and it also has a nice round shape that they’ll have fun tossing and pushing around. It’s a fun and safe way to help your small pet maintain its dental health.
However, some pet owners may find that their pets will lose interest in this toy rather quickly. The ball is held together by a natural rope, and the coconut husks will unravel once the pet chews through the rope. So, some pets will lose interest after the toy loses its shape.
- Uses natural coconut fibers
- Promotes dental hygiene
- Biodegradable
- Can become boring quickly
6. Sweet Meadow Dried Papaya Small Pet & Bird Treats
| Pet Type: | Small mammals, birds |
| Key Features: | Organic |
Papaya is a healthy and tasty treat for most small mammals and birds. It contains fibers that can help prevent hairballs and digestive issues. It also contains natural enzymes that further promote healthy digestive health.
Sweet Meadow Dried Papaya Small Pet & Bird Treats contains dried papaya that’s prepared in a way that preserves its natural nutritional benefits. Keep in mind that the recipe does contain some added sugars, so it’s not the best option for overweight pets or pets under observation for weight management.
Other than that, these treats are clean and safe for most pets to enjoy. The batches are made and tested for quality control on a small family farm in Sherborn, MA. All the treats developed by this farm are hand-packed and pesticide-free.
- Promotes healthy digestive health
- Contains nature fibers to prevent hairballs from
- Hand-packed and pesticide-free
- Contains added sugars
7. SunGrow Betta Fish Indian Almond Catappa Leaves
| Pet Type: | Soft water fish, blackwater fish |
| Key Features: | Organic, anti-bacterial |
If you’re looking to enhance your aquarium’s water quality, SunGrow Betta Fish Indian Almond Catappa Leaves offers a natural way to enrich your fish’s water. Just keep in mind that while Catappa leaves have a lot of beneficial properties, they’re not for all types of fish. These leaves are meant for soft water and blackwater fish, such as Bettas, Corys, and Tetras.
Catappa leaves diffuse tannins and humic acids to balance pH levels and add minerals to the water. Tannins have antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and algacidal properties to protect and support your fish’s immune system and overall health and well-being.
The leaves themselves are edible. They also float, so your tropical fish can use them to create bubble nests.
- Diffuses tannins and humic acids
- Protects and promotes immune system health
- Edible
- Fish can use to build bubble nests
- Made for only soft water and blackwater fish
8. SunGrow Crested & Leopard Gecko Coconut Hide
| Pet Type: | Small amphibians and reptiles |
| Key Features: | Biodegradable, organic, BPA-free |
SunGrow Crested & Leopard Gecko Coconut Hide is a cozy hideout for small amphibians and reptiles, particularly geckos. It’s made with 100% natural coconut husk, which mimics textures from a gecko’s natural habitat. The hideout also comes with a rope, giving you the option of suspending it or laying it on the ground. You can also use it as a fun enrichment toy and hide treats and food in it for your pet to forage through.
Along with being made with natural ingredients, this hideout is organic and biodegradable. So, it’s very safe for both your pet and the environment. However, with it being biodegradable, it can’t withstand prolonged exposure to humidity levels above 60% and can become moldy
- Uses 100% natural coconut husk
- Material mimics gecko’s natural habitat
- Can be suspended
- Organic and biodegradable
- Can grow mold in high humidity
9. Carefresh Small Animal Bedding
| Pet Type: | Small mammals |
| Key Features: | Biodegradable, compostable, dust-free |
Carefresh Small Animal Bedding is natural, dust-free bedding for small mammals. It’s made with paper and is completely biodegradable and compostable. It consists of fluffy pieces that also come in fun colors, including blue and rainbow.
The pieces may be a little too big for smaller animals, like dwarf hamsters and mice. However, many larger pets will enjoy using this soft bedding for their sleeping spaces. It’s also more absorbent than wood shavings, so it’ll last a long time.
One thing to keep in mind is that this bedding is quite sensitive to moisture. So, if you do a delivery order, it may arrive hardened due to weather.
- Dust-free
- Biodegradable and compostable
- Highly absorbent
- Comes in fun color options
- May be too big for small rodents
- Hardens quickly
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Eco-Friendly Pet Product
Some pet products may be marketed as eco-friendly and natural, but a closer look can reveal that they’re not as environmentally friendly as they claim. If you want to shop responsibly, you’ll notice some similarities that truly eco-friendly products share.
Traceable
A lot of eco-friendly pet food and treats will have traceable ingredients. Eco-friendly pet food companies will often be able to provide information on the specific farms and distributors that they work with, and many of these partnerships will have ethical and responsible practices.
Conscious Packaging
While the products themselves may be eco-friendly, some of them will not come in eco-friendly packaging. For example, cat litter and pet bedding may be made with recycled materials, but they can come in plastic packaging.
So, it’s also important to consider how the product is packaged. Cardboard boxes, paper wrapping, and recycled materials are all better alternatives that are safe for the environment.
Recycled Material
If you can, try to select items that are either partially made or fully made with recycled materials. Many toys and poop bags are made with a blend of recycled materials that conserves energy and natural materials.
Just keep in mind that recycled materials don’t always mean that an item is biodegradable or compostable. So, make sure to read labels before purchasing a product if these factors are particularly important to you.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable items benefit the environment because they’ll degrade more quickly without diffusing harmful chemicals as they break down. Even if you dispose of your trash responsibly, there’s no guarantee that your trash will make it to a landfill.
So, biodegradable products can ensure that no significant negative impact will be made on the environment if they end up falling on the ground while in transit to waste management facilities. They also won’t take up significant space in landfills because they’ll break down quickly. However, some biodegradable plastics will release micro-plastics as they break down. It can be beneficial to look for compostable products as these are biodegradable and benefit plants.
Conclusion
Our reviews show that the Ion Fusion Severe Pet Urine & Odor Destroyer is the best eco-friendly pet product because of its responsibly made formula and packaging. We also recommend the Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags because they provide a simple and affordable way to protect the environment.
Pet products can make a significant impact on the environment, so it’s important to make conscious choices and switch everyday pet supplies to eco-friendly alternatives. It doesn’t require too much of a lifestyle change and is truly a simple and easy way to conserve and protect the earth.
- You might also be interested in: 8 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Foods – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
