Last Updated: 29/10/2026
6 Practical Ways to Lower Your Pet's Environmental Impact
Our vet team looks at what the evidence says about pets and the environment, what it can't tell us yet, and six practical changes that are worth making.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 4 minutes - short read
Most of us want to do right by our pets and the planet. But every pet uses resources, and many environmental claims on pet products can be hard to check. This guide sticks to changes that are practical, safe for your pet’s health, and easy to verify for yourself.
What does the research say about pets and the environment?
Food is where most of the research focuses.
- Food is the main driver. A 2025 review1 of the research found that pet food is the main driver of a pet's environmental impact, and that the studies it covered all agree that impact is not negligible. One US study2 estimated that dogs and cats account for roughly 25 to 30% of the environmental impacts of animal production in the US.
- The numbers are estimates, and some are contested. Most studies come from the US, UK, Brazil and Asia, not Australia, and they rely on assumptions.
- Other things matter less. In one Brazilian study cited in the 2025 review, distribution was under 1% of a pet food's impact.
Feed the right amount
Feeding what your pet actually needs is the simplest change on this list, and it's good for their health too. A 2025 review of the research1 flags overfeeding as a source of avoidable food waste, and obesity is common in pet dogs and cats.
- Treat the feeding guide on the pack as a starting point, but individuals differ so adjust for your pet as needed.
- Check your pet's body condition regularly, and adjust the feeding amount if they're gaining or losing weight.
- Weigh the food instead of eyeballing a scoop, and count treats as part of the daily calorie allowance.
For a step by step guide, see how much should you actually feed your pet?
Choose food with information you can check
Start with complete and balanced nutrition for your pet's life stage and health. Within that, ingredients matter most for environmental impact. In a 2025 analysis of 31 UK adult dry dog foods3, plant-based recipes had the lowest estimated impact, poultry-based and veterinary renal diets sat in the middle, and beef and lamb recipes had the highest.
Words like "sustainable", "eco-friendly" and "ethical" can be hard to check. Brands that can back them up will usually say where the main ingredients come from, name the certification or standard behind a claim and who audits it, and share environmental data with the method and date.
More in our guides to ethical and sustainable pet food and how to read a pet food label.
What to think about before adding a pet
Adopting is a wonderful place to start, because there are many dogs and cats in shelters and rescues waiting for a home. It may also be better for the environment, because adopting a pet who already exists, rather than adding another through breeding, doesn’t add to the number of animals, though the environmental impact of pet adoption hasn’t been measured directly.
- Adoption should be a welfare decision first. The most important thing is choosing a pet whose needs you can meet and who suits your home and lifestyle.
- Size affects how much food a pet needs. Larger pets generally eat more, but temperament, lifestyle and welfare needs should come first.
- Desexing helps prevent unwanted litters. Ask your vet about the right timing for your pet.
Cat litter: get the amount right, dispose of it properly
Use the right amount of cat litter and check before you flush.
- Use the right amount. Scoop daily and top up as needed, and keep enough depth that your cat is happy to dig. Clumping litters let you scoop out the soiled part and keep the rest.
- Check before you flush. A "flushable" label doesn't guarantee a particular litter is safe for your pipes, septic system or local sewer, so check the manufacturer's instructions and your local water authority and council's advice.
If you switch litter, mix the new in with the old over a week or so, to allow your cat to adjust to the change.
For more, see our complete guide to cat litter.
Poo bags: check the certification, then check your council
Choosing a biodegradable, degradable or compostable poo bag is a good environmentally minded instinct. What matters is knowing what each term means and where the bag ends up.
- "Biodegradable" and "degradable" don't mean compostable. Many bags sold this way are still plastic that breaks into smaller pieces, and they belong in the general waste bin.
- In Australia, "compostable" should mean a certification. Look for AS 4736 (industrial composting) and/or AS 5810 (home composting) on the pack.
- Where the bag ends up is the catch. Rules vary by council. While some councils allow dog poop in compostable poo bags to be disposed of in green waste bins, others don't, so check your local council rules.
Choose gear that lasts
A well-made, durable collar, lead, bed or bowl is usually a better choice than a cheap one you replace. That said, be sure to replace chew toys and beds if they show signs of wear, to prevent your pet ingesting small pieces.
- If a product says it's made from recycled materials, check the detail. A brand that can back the claim will usually say how much of the product is recycled material, what that material was before, and whether the product can be recycled again at the end of its life.
- Store food so it stays fresh. Buy the bag size your pet will finish before it goes stale or passes its use by date, and store it as the pack says. Food that gets thrown out wastes everything that went into making it.
Raising a happy pet doesn't have to cost the earth. By making mindful choices about what we feed, how we scoop, and how we shop, we can significantly reduce our pets' environmental impact.
References
Nicholles B, Knight A (2025). The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569372/full
Okin GS (2017), Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats, PLOS ONE (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181301), https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181301
Brociek RA, Gardner DS (2025). Environmental impact of feeding plant-based vs. meat-based dry dog foods in the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1633312/full.
Green Industries SA. Compostable, degradable and biodegradable plastic: what's the difference? Which Bin. https://www.whichbin.sa.gov.au/tips/compostable-degradable-biodegradable-difference
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 29 Oct 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
