With the New Year just starting, it’s important to think about ways you can continue to make the world a better place. Whether it’s through your water consumption or your transportation habits, there are lots of things you can do to be more eco-friendly in the new year. One area many overlook is pet ownership. As a pet owner, you might not realize your carbon footprint. From discarded toys to unused medications, there are plenty of things that could lead to you contributing to a higher carbon footprint without realizing. From products that will help you be a more eco-friendly pet owner, like our durable silicone pet tags, to tips and tricks for ways to be more conscious of your pet’s eco footprint, here’s your ultimate guide to green pet ownership this calendar year. Does Being Eco-Friendly Really Matter in 2023? The short answer is yes, being eco-friendly does really matter in 2023. However, it’s important to recognize that there’s more to it than just a simple answer. Being eco-friendly is a lifestyle, not just a few decisions you make when shopping at the grocery store or sorting your trash. Instead, being eco-friendly is more about assessing your daily habits and determining what things you can do to reduce the amount of waste you produce. Whether you use biodegradable tableware or you install motion-detecting faucets, being eco-friendly can really make a difference in how much waste you’re producing. Here are some climate change statistics that might surprise you: Overall, the Earth’s temperature last year was the sixth highest ever recorded by NOAA. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, handles tracking changes in the Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. As a government entity, this administration provides recommendations to the government about how to handle changes in the climate. Since NOAA has been recording the Earth’s temperature, 2021 ranked as the sixth highest temperature they’d ever seen. Tidal flooding is a huge issue. Coastal areas across the country are experiencing tidal flooding at exponentially high rates. Scientists estimate this is due to pollution and erosion. This is a huge issue for beach towns and coastal sanctuaries that have ecosystems and lifestyles that need lower levels of sea rise. Since climate change is such a large issue, it’s important to consider ways you can improve your own individual footprint. Products You — and Your Pet — Need to Be More Eco-Friendly in the New Year Finding the right products to get you and your pet on the right track to an eco-friendly New Year can seem like a huge challenge. Who even knew that there were eco-friendly products for pets? Here at QALO, we pride ourselves on having products made from the best quality and designed to last for years. We partner with other brands that focus on sustainability, even for our pet products. Our custom pet tags are made from high-quality silicone, and some even feature Bluetooth tracking technology made exclusively in partnership with Tile. Our Tile for pets is one of the first of its kind. The trackable Bluetooth technology allows you to pinpoint a precise location of your pup up to 200 feet from you. You can even share your dog’s location with friends and family using the app. All our tags are wide enough for you to print important and potentially life-saving information on them. Include your pet’s name, your phone number, your address and even their medical needs, all on their tag. Regardless of whether or not you purchase a standard silicone tag or one of our TraQ tags, you can rest assured that these tags are made with the Earth in mind. But, tags aren’t the only thing we offer that encourage eco-friendly and sustainable living. Our dog collar and leash sets come in various sizes so every dog can benefit from the power of silicone. These sets provide everything you need for a walk with your pup. From a collapsible, refillable water bowl to a retractable leash and even a reflective break-away collar, these sets are just what you need to bring your pet into an eco-friendly lifestyle this year. You’ll find your dog is more likely to go on walks with you too. Because you’ll have everything they need, right in one perfect bundle, they’ll love the chance to go out walking with you. These items will go a long way in helping you and your pup lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle in 2023! Why Is Silicone Eco-Friendly? We often get asked why we choose silicone for our products. Because it’s a partially man-made product, a lot of people get concerned that we’re using harsh chemical by-products or we’re making something up about its strengths. The truth is, silicone is a great eco-friendly material! Here’s why: Durability Silicone is a highly durable material. It often withstands pressure and temperature tests at rates incapable of other materials. Perfect for your everyday eco-friendly needs! Longevity Silicone products last longer than non-silicone ones. Because they last so long, you won’t add to the almost 270 trillion tons of waste we produce each year. The more and more silicone products you use, the less likely you are to throw them out and replace them with cheaper, lesser-quality choices. Multipurpose Silicone can be used for multiple products. Often seen in car tires, baking equipment and (in our case here at QALO) jewelry and exercise accessories, you can use silicone in a variety of ways. Because of its many functions, you can use silicone products for multiple tasks. When items are multi-purpose, they tend to be more eco-friendly because you can reduce the general amount of items you have. Cost-efficient Silicone is a cost-efficient and budget-friendly alternative to many other materials. Because silicone doesn’t rust or corrode like metal, it makes for a great material to use in a variety of projects and products. You’ll find that you’re saving when you invest in silicone products! Who doesn’t want a little more in the bank this year? Because silicone is such a great material, it’s no wonder we use it in all our products! Discover Our Eco-Friendly Pet ID Tags & More Ways to Be More Eco-Friendly with Your Pet If you’re still unsure of ways you can be more eco-friendly with your pet, then here are some tips that will help! Don’t run the water during bathtime Instead of running the water during bathtime, fill the tub with water and then fill a second large bowl with water or soap. This way, you aren’t running the water and wasting gallons while giving your dog a bath! It’s perfect for dog owners out there who want to make bath time a little less chaotic. Find recyclable litter Cat litter is a huge problem when it comes to carbon footprints. Plus, using poor cat litter can be bad for your cat. Instead, find a cat litter made from biodegradable or eco-friendly ingredients. The container will say it right on the packaging, and they’ll also include disposal instructions. For cat owners who want to harness the power of an eco-friendly lifestyle, recyclable litter is a great option. Compost your dog’s poop While you can’t use your dog’s feces on food-generating gardens, you can create carbon-heavy compost to use on your decorative trees, flowers and other non-food plants. There’s a huge process involved with this, but for the experienced composter, this one’s a no-brainer to being a more eco-friendly pet owner in the New Year! If you can get over the smell and cultivate the necessary items, you’ll find that it really helps your non-food vegetation. Donate the toys instead of disposing of them Before you trash your pets’ toys, consider donating them. Of course, you’ll need to disinfect them if you’re donating them, but there are many shelters out there that could use the donated items. Make sure they’re usable items, though — you wouldn’t want someone to give you a destroyed toy! Double check where their food is from While it might seem cheaper to purchase the average pet-food brands, check to confirm whether the company makes their product with sustainable practices and uses eco-friendly materials. This is a huge deal, as ingredients can massively impact a pet’s health. You might be thinking you’re giving your pet a great food, but you’d be surprised what’s hiding deep within the chemical compound of your pet’s food. By feeding them eco-friendly pet food, you’re taking one important step to being an eco-friendly pet owner. Make their treats yourself! Talk with your pet’s vet and find out what ingredients they can have. Then, go to the store, buy what you need, head home and make your pet the best homemade treats they’ve ever had! This will not only be more cost-efficient in the long run for you but will also be a great way for you to control what your pet is ingesting. Plus, it’ll reduce waste, especially if you have any produce that is about to go to waste and is safe for your pet to eat, and you won’t be using and disposing of packaging. For new and potential pet owners, consider adopting instead. Even if you’ve had your heart set on a purebred since you were a kid, adopting is the perfect choice for new and potential pet owners looking to be eco-friendly this year. Animals in shelters need a new lease on life, and what better way to offer that than by adopting one? Being eco-friendly is all about purpose, and you can physically show your commitment to being an eco-friendly pet owner by adopting a pet from a shelter instead of shopping for one directly from a breeder. Specific breeds often need to be rehomed because of an owner’s death or inability to care for them, and these will have rescue organizations devoted to them. Get extra blankets for when you keep the heat down. Animals can’t always regulate their body temperature like we can as humans. That’s why it’s important to have lots of extra blankets on hand during the colder months when you’ll be choosing to keep your heat down to save on energy costs. This way, your pup can be warm and toasty without driving up your energy usage or your heating bill! Plus, what pet doesn’t like to cuddle up in a nice, warm blanket with their pet parent? The Biggest Way to Be an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner in 2023 Above all, it’s immensely important to consider one of the biggest pieces of being an eco-friendly pet owner — intent. As you make decisions about pet ownership, the hallmark of a truly eco-friendly pet-owner is one that takes careful consideration into what they’re purchasing for their pet. You can find a variety of products that cater to eco-friendly and sustainable pet ownership. If you choose these items carefully and with the full intent of using them in an eco-friendly fashion, then you’re making the right decision. It can seem tough to try to find products that help you reduce the amount of your carbon footprint, especially as a pet parent. However, there are a variety of things you can do and products you can try that will help to make your life as an eco-friendly pet parent easier. Of course, it’s not always going to be a walk in the park, and you might struggle to find the right products at first. Regardless, your number one priority should always be intentionally looking for products that meet yours and your pets’ sustainable needs. With a bit of planning, you can get well on your way to being the best eco-friendly pet owner of the year! Image Credits Gladskikh Tatiana/Shutterstock.com Nina Buday/Shutterstock.com VVadi4ka/Shutterstock.com