End Plastics
Paws Off Our Pets! The One-Year Anniversary of Pets vs. Plastics
July 15, 2025
It’s officially been a year since EARTHDAY.ORG released our powerful Pets vs. Plastics report, uncovering just how deep microplastics are embedded in our pet companions’ lives. Given that pets are increasingly part of our families it is not surprising that the report had such an impact.
Research has shown that the majority of pet owners regard their relationship with their pets, especially dogs and cats, as akin to a relationship with a child. Millennials and Gen Z have been touted as the “fur-baby-boom generations.”
The Problem With Plastics
Historically, plastic was hailed as the do-it-all material. By the 1950s it started to be used widely, driven by a post-war economy that saw plastic products flying off our shelves, while the booming fossil fuel backed plastic industry, manufactured every conceivable household item from packaging to clothes, in the form of polyester, to medical equipment to furniture, curtain, carpets and computers from plastics. Sippy cups and stethoscopes would soon be joined by thousands of pet products too- the majority of them made with the same cheap plastic materials – all created from a mix of oil and a cocktail of toxic chemicals.
Plastic promised us hygiene, permanence and convenience. Unfortunately we learned too late that plastic may be permanent but it is not inert, it breaks down into smaller particles called micro and nano plastics. Which in turn leach plastic chemicals and can harbor viruses and bacteria.
Today, we know how harmful this so-called “convenient” material can be as microplastics, tiny particles of plastics, and their toxic chemicals are associated with a whole range of human health issues. Anything from cancers to heart attacks to infertility.
On July 12, 2024 Pets Vs. Plastics exposed how plastic pollutants had infiltrated our pet’s lives too – their food, toys and bedding. As the pet market continues to boom, by the end of 2025 Americans alone are projected to spend $157 billion on pet related products, with the U.S. representing the world’s largest market. This explosive growth means more plastic products are ending up in our homes, and ultimately, in our pets’ daily routines and even inside their bodies.
So, it feels timely to look back at the key points from our pet report and remind every pet owner what they need to know.
We are not trying to frighten pet owners, we just want them to be aware that it is best for your pet’s health to avoid plastic toys and textiles as much as possible, and really be mindful of how their food is packaged. We are bombarding our bodies, our families, and our pets with a toxic mix of chemicals and we want people to be aware.
Tom Cosgrove, Chief Creative and Content Officer, EARTHDAY.ORG
Far From Squeaky Clean
Like babies, chewing is an essential part of a puppy’s development. But unlike humans, dogs don’t grow out of the need to chew, which provides necessary jaw exercise and can even reduce anxiety. From rubber balls to Lamb Chop, pet toys have gotten more and more creative as the industry capitalized on this and owners’ love for their four-legged friends.
Pet owners should read this report. Plastic is derived from a cocktail of oil and additive chemicals, like bisphenol A, PVC and phthalates. These can leach into our pets’ gums, stomachs and skin and are associated with a whole host of health issues for our pets. From cancers to embryo development to potential infertility, liver failure, miscarriage and more.
Aidan Charron, Associate Director Global Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG
Unfortunately, Pets Vs. Plastics found that pet toys are largely unregulated. Many pets are chewing and chomping on harmful plastic chemicals like, BPA (bisphenol A), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and phthalates.
Plastic toys made with these types of products can potentially harm our pets because toxic chemicals leach out of these toys when they are chewed, licked, or played with. Once inside the body, BPA and the additives used to soften PVC can disrupt pets’ hormone systems, damage organs like the liver and kidneys, and have been linked to reproductive problems and even cancer. Pets are especially vulnerable because they interact with toys using their mouths, increasing their exposure to these harmful substances.
It’s not just the chemicals that can harm our pets—bits of plastic chewed off these toys can also be dangerous. In fact, a 2021 report in Applied Animal Behaviour Science found that 4% of dogs required veterinary treatment after chewing on plastic toy materials, and 83% of pet owners give their pets essentially inedible chew toys. Yet, the Pets Vs. Plastics investigation revealed that a pet toy has never been recalled for being deemed “hazardous” by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which claims its authority extends only to products intended for humans.
The lack of federal action has led nonprofits and other organizations to develop their own safety standards. Bark’s first-ever industry-wide toy safety standard, is accompanied by their toy testing lab that utilizes jaw simulation technology. The work comes alongside ASTM international, a company dedicated to improving standards in a variety of products and services.
Other companies have focused on sustainability. BeyondGREEN Biotech, Inc. uses biopolymers–organic, biodegradable materials from natural sources–to develop sustainable product manufacturing in the United States. With this method, starch from potatoes, cellulose from bamboo, and chitin from clams replace harmful synthetic substitutes. The company is also compliant with EN13432 and ASTM D6400, industrial standards for compostability in Europe and the U.S., respectively. Meanwhile, Green Pet uses cornstarch and bamboo as biodegradable material for their products.
But even these standards don’t target the threat of microplastics and other contaminants that can worm their way into our pets bodies.
Are Pet Food Standards Poor?
As if ingesting microplastics from chew toys wasn’t enough, pets are also at risk of pollutants being in their food. Pets Vs. Plastics revealed that dust, animal poop, and polyethylene–a popular type of plastic–can all potentially end up in our pet’s food. These dangers are heightened by a lack of pre-market review for pet food, and lax laws on the use of additives.
It’s hard to know for sure what ingredients are actually being used in our pet’s food and there have been lawsuits as a result of false ingredient claims.
The U.S. especially has a complicated and opaque pet food labelling system that was up until recently delegated to a non-federal organization called AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement outlined how AAFCO and the FDA worked together to define and approve new animal feed and pet food ingredients. But just a few months after EARTHDAY.ORG’s (EDO) pet report came out the MOU between AAFCO and the FDA, expired on October 1, 2024. This action was confirmed by the American Vet Medical Association (AVMA).
Now, the FDA is developing its own Animal Food Ingredient Consultation Program to review and approve new ingredients directly, rather than relying on the AAFCO process. We know that many hundreds of EDO supporters wrote to the FDA demanding better regulation for their beloved pet’s food but the FDA chose not to respond to them or us.
Meanwhile, even without the MOU in place, AAFCO continues to set model regulations and standards for pet food labeling, which many individual states still use as guidance. Some consumer advocates and pet owners have accused AAFCO of discriminating against consumers by restricting public access to meetings and regulatory processes, and they question whether AAFCO’s standards are unduly influenced by the pet food industry. These critics argue that AAFCO’s actions lack transparency and may not always prioritize animal welfare.
While the EU has stricter pet food regulation, countries like Australia and China have none, indicating a global shortcoming for pet safety.
Meanwhile, this January AAFCO approved a proposal to replace their Ingredient Definition Request process. The proposal means Kansas State University’s Olathe Innovation Campus (K-State Olathe) will be “provide the scientific review for a new animal food ingredient submission pathway”.
Some industry stakeholders, such as the Pet Food Institute, have expressed concerns – worrying that the burden of proof for ingredient safety could differ between academic and federal reviews, potentially leading to inconsistencies in standards. Shifting the review process to an academic panel could introduce more regulatory discretion and subjectivity, rather than the codified standards used by federal agencies. Plus, there is concern that consumers may be skeptical of a process not directly overseen by the FDA.
Actress Amanda Seyfried and her beloved dog Finn took part in a Plastic Tox Test to support EARTHDAY.ORG’s efforts to raise awareness about the health risks of plastic chemical exposure for both humans and pets.
“I was anxious about the results and when they came back I was definitely upset by my dog Finn’s exposure, he scored in the top 90% on phthalates, which is very high. I feed him a healthy diet but I realize now that the plastic packaging on his food is leaching toxic chemicals directly into it. It was a bit of a wake up call. If his food is contaminated with phthalates, then that convinces me that all of us are much more exposed than we perhaps realize, including our children.
Amanda Seyfried, Actress
Wrap it Up: Plastic Packaging
A pet’s love is forever, but sadly so are the chemicals used in packaging. Pets Vs. Plastic reported that PFAs, per- and polyfluoroalkyl commonly called “forever chemicals”, were found in pet food packaging. In humans, these harmful chemicals have been found to lead to kidney disease, liver disease, cancer and birth defects. It was found some cat food contained more than 600 parts per million (ppm) while some dog food recorded just under that number.
Even if you don’t care about your own pet’s health, and we do, our pets act as sentinels. What impacts them, is almost certainly impacting us and this is yet more evidence that we are all ingesting and inhaling plastics in one form or another. We have to slash plastic production by 60% by 2040 and make the plastic industry take responsibility for the harm they are causing.
Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG
A Paws-On Approach
So with all this plastic, we’re sure you’re thinking: “Well what can I do for my pets?”. And we’ve come up with some answers from vacuuming to shampoos. Check out our article 6 Ways to Protect Your Pets from Plastics to learn more about preventing ingestion for your furry friends.
We need a 60% reduction in plastic to save our pet’s health. And with the already limited oversight shrinking, now more than ever we need to act. Our Global Plastics Treaty urges leaders to take a stand, putting people and pets over profit.
From eliminating unsubstantiated claims about performance–like “indestructible”–to a global industry standard for all labeling, to proactive enforcement of regulations, we need better care for our pets. Sign here to take part in the fight against plastic pollution, and help fight for a better future for all. Let’s make a change, and put our best paw forward.
This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.
