End Plastics
7 Ways to Get Plastics Out of Your Pets’ Lives
July 3, 2025
It’s International Plastic Bag Free Day and there’s finally something to celebrate. Plastic bag use is on the decline, and that’s great news for all of us; even our pets who we love like family.
Today is all about raising awareness of the damage single-use plastic bags cause and encouraging individuals, businesses, and governments to move away from them. Around the world, policies like bag bans and mandatory checkout fees have been implemented to reduce reliance on plastic. These initiatives not only cut down on waste but have also been shown to save retailers money and nudge consumers toward reusable alternatives.
In some areas, these efforts have led to a drop in plastic bag litter by as much as 47%, making a real difference for our ecosystems and reducing harmful plastic exposure in our daily lives.
Why does that matter? Because plastic isn’t just bad for the planet; it’s toxic to people and animals. Chemicals like phthalates and bisphenols found in plastics can leach into our environment, contaminating our air, water, and even our bodies. Our furry companions, who explore the world with their mouths and paws, are especially vulnerable.
Here are our top 7 tips for protecting your fur babies from plastics:
1) Watch Their Water
When at home, it’s easier to ensure our pets get cleaner water. But once we take them out, it’s a different story. It’s understandable; you don’t want to leave your furry loved ones behind and you want to keep them hydrated. However, giving them bottled water can jeopardize their health. A single bottle can contain up to 240,000 microplastic particles, and the chemicals in those plastics can leach into the water your pet drinks. Instead, carry fresh water for them in a reusable aluminum or glass bottle!
2) Sweep up
That household “dust” isn’t just dust – it’s full of microplastics. Regular sweeping and vacuuming can reduce what you and your pets breathe in and ingest. 99% of carpets in the US are made from polyester, nylon, polypropylene, or triexta, which are plastic textiles, made from oil, meaning your beloved cats and dogs are coming into contact with tiny plastic filaments and fibers all the time — unless you are cleaning them up!
3) Beyond Plastic Packaging
Plastic packaging leaches into your pet’s food and treats and bisphenol, often known as BPA, often lines the inside of pet food cans. To avoid it, try reaching for options in non-plastic packaging. Also ditch the plastic bowls; glass or stainless steel are much better for serving up Rover’s dinner.
4) Hidden Ingredients
Pet food itself has also been found to contain microplastics, from ear tags from the heads of carcass animals used in the making of pet food to plastic packaging from waste human food that can get ground into the mix. So consider cooking your own home style pet food so that you know exactly what Buddy and Jinx are eating. There are lots of great resources on-line for this and the ASPA has advice on the nutrients your pet needs.
5) Choose Natural Toys
Our animal companions often ingest plastic from their toys, especially dogs who love to chew. The plastic they’re gnawing on isn’t magically edible and can get stuck in their gums, or worse, find its way into their digestive system. Many pet owners have racked up hefty vet bills after surgeries to remove toy fragments. And yes, manufacturers may claim that the squeakers in plush toys aren’t meant to be eaten, but we all know pets don’t read warnings.
Despite the risks, pet toys remain largely unregulated. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) only intervenes if a product poses a danger to humans, and the FDA does not regulate pet accessories at all. This means manufacturers can legally produce toys containing harmful chemicals like phthalates and BPA. Labels such as “indestructible” or “non-toxic” often have no official oversight or testing to back these claims, leaving pet owners to rely on trust rather than regulation.
These chemicals aren’t just theoretical risks; they’re showing up in our pets. A 2019 study even found phthalates in the urine of every dog and cat tested, at levels comparable to humans. These plasticizers, which make hard plastics more flexible, can leach from pet toys and be absorbed through pets’ gums, potentially causing liver, kidney, and reproductive damage. Worn or broken plastic toys increase exposure, and since pets never outgrow their chewing habits, this risk is constant.
Opt for toys made from natural materials like organic cotton, bamboo, natural rubber, wool, and hemp. Avoid heavily dyed toys. Even use an old cotton t-shirt tied up in knots as a toy, your dog will love it and it’s cheaper too!
6) Say No to Polyester
Pet cloth collars, clothes, beds, blankets, leashes and toys are nearly always going to be made from or contain plastic based materials -like polyester textiles and they shed microplastic fibers. So these should be a no-go for you and your pets! Choose natural materials instead. Wool and cotton are best. Plus check out what you can find at your local thrift store – look for human clothes you can retrofit into pet fashion! That way you are cleverly recycling not creating more stuff!
7) Choose Smarter Grooming Products
Avoid pet shampoos and other grooming products with microbeads (those tiny plastic balls found in many beauty products). Instead, look for animal friendly shampoo bars.
Overall, reducing plastic use in your home cuts down on microplastics in your environment, making your household safer and healthier for everyone — paws, claws, and all!
This International Plastic Bag Free Day, let’s not just free our shopping carts from plastic — let’s free our pets, too. From the toys they chew to the bowls they eat from, plastic surrounds them in ways we often overlook. Choosing safer, plastic-free alternatives is more than a personal decision; it’s a stand for their health and a demand that industries and policymakers stop treating our pets as an afterthought.
To gain more insight on how plastics affect our pet’s health, read EARTHDAY.ORG’s report PETS vs PLASTICS. If you would like to take more action, you can reach out to the FDA to demand they better regulate our pets’ food and toys.
If you want to cut plastics out of your life, we have tons of awesome tote bags on our Earth Day Store.
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