Play is an important part of bonding with your furry friend. But what if playing with your pet was making them sick? Not all pet toys are created equally or are entirely safe for your pet to play with. We’ve rounded up 8 pet brands offering non-toxic, eco-friendly pet toys for a safe and sustainable play session.
Pets Are Now Part Of The Family
There’s no doubt we’ve become fond of our four-legged friends. We keep over 470 million dogs and 370 million cats as pets worldwide. The United States leads the pack in terms of dog ownership, with 70% of households owning a dog.
We’ve upgraded pets in our family structure in recent years. They’re no longer “commodities” to be kept outside or wandering the yard. They’re important family members now, with 85% of dog owners seeing their dog as part of their family. And for good reason. Dog owners report less loneliness, depression, social anxiety and even live longer than non dog owners.
It’s no wonder that along with our love for our furry friends, the pet care industry has grown to $207.9 billion globally. In the United States, 18% of dog owners spend up to $50 per month on dog toys alone, up to $600 per year.
But some toys can contain toxic or unsafe chemicals, leaving our pets exposed to higher risks of health issues. In fact, a 2018 study found that dogs and cats were contaminated with 48 industrial chemicals, 43 of which were at higher levels than those found in humans. Another study found 45% of brand-name pet products contained hazardous toxins and 48% of tennis balls contained lead. While health effects in pets haven’t been studied, many of the chemicals identified were carcinogens, of which the effects in humans have been studied extensively. These findings are particularly concerning considering cancer is a leading cause of death for dogs.
Tips For Buying Eco-Friendly Pet Toys
Is It Made From Organic Materials?
The first thing to look for when buying eco friendly pet toys is the material of the toy. Is it made from organic material like jute, hemp and natural rubber? Or is it made from man made materials like plastic? Man-made materials are more likely to contain harmful chemicals like lead, phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA). By sticking with natural materials, ideally ones produced organically, you can help avoid contaminating your pet and the environment around you.
Is It Chemical Free?
As consumers, we’re somewhat familiar with chemical terms like PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) and BPA (Bisphenol A). At least we know that we should avoid them and so we can look out for them on labeling. We don’t generally see labels telling us that pet products are arsenic, chlorine, bromine or lead free. And maybe that’s because they’re not free of those chemicals. Research shows tennis balls for dogs contain 2,696 ppm of lead and 262 ppm of arsenic, but regular sports tennis balls don’t contain any lead. If in doubt, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends and recognizes the 3M Lead Check test kit for testing lead in paint.
Is It Recycled, Recyclable or Compostable?
End of life care is important when looking for an eco-friendly pet toy. We throw away 634 million dog toys every year, equivalent to 40,500 tonnes of waste. Some toys, like plush toys, have a naturally shorter lifespan due to their unfortunate destructibility. But what happens to these toys at the end of their life is what matters. Some companies like Pawty Animals and West Paw take toys back, fixing or recycling them into new toys to keep them out of landfills. Toys made from natural materials like jute or hemp can be composted, making them one of the most eco-friendly pet toys.
Is It Ethically Sourced?
Ok, so you’ve ticked off the first three boxes of buying eco-friendly pet toys. You have your eye on an organic, natural and compostable pet toy. But where does it come from, how and who made it and were they paid fairly? Look out for country of origin information and indicators of fair trade on the label. Pet brands dedicated to sustainability carry these principals throughout by sourcing with minimal impact to the planet and investing in local communities.
Does It Have Sustainability Certifications?
Certifications like B Corp, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), USDA Organic, and Fairtrade, help you instantly identify whether a product is sustainable or not. Certified brands will display a logo on the pet label and likely offer more information online so you can dig into exactly how sustainable they are.
Eco-Friendly Pet Toys For Dogs
1. Frisbee Toy
- Toy: Sailz
- Brand: West Paw
- From: Montana, United States
- Website: westpaw.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 101.3
West Paw uses Seaflex™, made from recycled ocean-bound plastic, and Zogoflex®, made from recyclable Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) in many of their products, including the Sailz frisbee. This eco-friendly pet toy is non-toxic and free from BPA, phthalates and latex. As well as being a Certified B Corporation, West Paw also carries the Oceanworks Guarantee as a symbol of source authenticity and transparency. In an effort to create zero-waste pet products, toys made with their proprietary Zogoflex® can be returned and recycled into new toys through their Join the Loop® recycling program.
2. Ball Toy
- Toy: Hive Ball
- Brand: Project Hive
- From: Minnesota, United States
- Website: projecthivepetcompany.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 89.9
Project Hive is on a mission to save bees and plants wildflowers for every product purchased. Their pet toy designs all relate back to bees, combining their love for dogs and bees in a variety of beautifully designed toys. Through their partnership with the The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund, purchases go directly to establishing healthy bee habitats. The Hive Ball is made from 100% recyclable (#7) TPE and is BPA, latex and phthalates free.
3. Plush Toy
- Toy: Blooming Buddies Collection
- Brand: P.L.A.Y
- From: California, United States
- Website: petplay.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 87.5
P.L.A.Y Pet Lifestyle and You started off making eco-friendly dog beds made from PlanetFill®, filler made from 100% post-consumer certified-safe recycled plastic bottles. Today they make sustainable dog beds, toys and travel accessories. Packaging and tags are minimal and use paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. P.L.A.Y is a Certified B Corporation and holds the Green America certification. The Blooming Buddies Plush Dog Toy Collection from P.L.A.Y is made from eco-friendly PlanetFill® filler and is free from AZO dyes. AZO-free dyes don’t contain EU regulated carcinogenic compounds and are better for the environment.
4. Activity Toy
- Toy: Star Treat Dog Activation Toy
- Brand: Hevea
- From: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Website: heveaplanet.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 85.9
Hevea makes eco-friendly pet, baby and personal hygiene products using natural rubber from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree. The Star Treat Dog Activation Toy is made from 100% natural rubber, certified vegan and free from plastic, silicone, petroleum, heavy metals, PVC, and phthalates. Hevea partners with Tree Nation towards their goal of planting 4,600 Hevea trees in the Amazonia Rioterra, Brazil. Every purchase on their website above 60 euro, plants one tree in the Amazonia Rioterra.
5. Rope Toy
- Toy: Ball & Rope Dog Toy
- Brand: Only Natural Pet
- From: Colorado, United States
- Website: onlynaturalpet.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 84.8
The Only Natural Pet Ball and Rope Toy is made from regenerated cotton, helping to divert waste from landfills. Their toys use chemical free dyes, free from hazardous chemicals that could harm your pet. Only Natural Pet is a Certified B Corporation, with 100% carbon neutral manufacturing, packaging and distribution.
Eco Friendly Pet Toys For Cats
6. Cat Scratcher
- Toy: Leeloo Cat Scratcher
- Brand: P.L.A.Y
- From: California, United States
- Website: petplay.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 87.5
P.L.A.Y doesn’t just make toys for dogs, they also make eco-friendly cat toys and cat scratchers. Their Leeloo Cat Scratcher is made from FDA certified corrugated recycled paper. In addition to making eco-friendly pet toys, P.L.A.Y. also partners with Ecocart, giving customers the option to offset the carbon footprint of each order.
7. Catnip Toy
- Toy: Catnip Toy
- Brand: Beco
- From: London, United Kingdom
- Website: becopets.com
- Certified B: Yes
- Certified B Score: 85.5
Beco aims to have as little impact on the planet as possible, while having a positive impact on your pet’s life. The Beco Catnip Toy is made from recycled polyester cloth and North American catnip. Beco is a Certified B Corporation, Climate Neutral Certified and a member of 1% for the Planet. They also have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in their supply chain. As part of their modern (anti) slavery policy, they conduct regular ethical and environmental audits with partners following a globally recognised framework and standard.
8. Cat Ball
- Toy: Cat Ball
- Brand: Americat Company
- From: Pennsylvania, United States
- Website: americatcompany.com
- Certified B: No
Americat Company is a small, woman-owned business specializing in eco-friendly cat products, made in the USA. The American Company Cat Balls are made from heavy-duty but recyclable, non-toxic materials – U.S. corrugated cardboard and FDA approved vegan glue. As part of their giving back, Americat Company donates products to rescues and shelters and sponsors feral cats’ spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations.
Sustayn is designed to present the most useful recommendations for environmentally friendly approaches and items. We update links when possible, but note that links can be broken and subject to change. This article does not contain affiliate links.
