Have you ever thought about not throwing your pet’s food bags or boxes into the bin, but rather using them for some practical purpose? The following environmentally conscious method is becoming increasingly popular among Finns, and it has inspired us as well.

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As the local press reports, in Finland people are reusing their waste creatively – including pet food packaging – by posting parcels in them. The report also includes photos showing that people send packages in emptied milk cartons, cardboard salad bowls, boxes of foil-packed pet food, and even in cardboard crisp tubes, all in the spirit of environmental awareness. It is both clever and useful, as the recipient of the parcel can also reuse the packaging material or dispose of it in the selective waste bin, thus making full use of the packaging’s potential. What’s more, they save money this way, since they don’t need to buy boxes or wrapping paper.

Dry cat food's packaging can be recycled too

There Are Two Things To Watch Out For With Cat Food Packaging

As the parcel delivery service workers highlight, only those packaging materials are suitable for this that are strong and safe enough; for example, it is not advisable to wrap a fragile plate in thin plastic.

It should also be taken into account that some recycled materials – including food bags – can have quite a strong aroma, so they are not suitable for storing certain items. For instance, a jumper smelling of cat food is not exactly desirable, and you might find it difficult to get rid of the scent from the fabric. With milk and other food boxes, this is one of the greatest risks.

In addition, in the case of cardboard crisp tubes, experts point out the danger of rolling away, which can cause the posted item to easily get lost. As for textiles, they are not recommended for mailing either, because labels needed for delivery don’t stick well to them.

With a little attention you can be a much more environmentally conscious owner

How Can You Be An Environmentally Conscious Cat Owner?

We have taken the idea further, and below we have collected how you can become an ever more conscious pet owner. You don’t necessarily have to send your postal package in a pet food bag – although we welcome the initiative, considering how much waste we produce through posting – but with similarly small habits that only require a little attention, you too can become “greener”. Let’s see!

1.) Buy Larger Packs Of Food

Instead of frequently buying small packages, boxes or tins of pet food, choose the larger version. On the one hand, this reduces the amount of packaging material, and on the other hand, you need to go to the shop or place orders less often. What you need to pay attention to in this case is storage: if you have bought a large bag of dry food, transfer it as soon as possible into a metal, well-sealed container. Otherwise, the open bag will soon absorb moisture, losing its pleasantness and freshness, and over time it can become soft or even mouldy. In addition, tiny food mites can also move in. As for tinned food, we only recommend buying a large pack if your pet eats it within one or two days. Even so, it is important to put it into the fridge immediately after opening, otherwise it can spoil quickly.

Most cats prefer more near-natural litter

2.) Choose Environmentally Friendly Cat Litter

The range of cat litter products is vast, but if you want to protect your environment as much as possible, choose an alternative made from some natural material. Animals generally prefer these to the synthetic, scented versions.

3.) Make Your Pet’s Toys Yourself

Although the selection in this area is (also) huge, your four-legged one probably doesn’t actually need dozens of plush or other plastic toys to feel good. Excellent entertainment tools can be made from natural materials, and ordinary household items can also serve as toys. The many objects are often more important to the owner than to the animal.

A simple cardboard box can keep a cat entertained for a long time

For example, a cardboard box is heaven for cats, but they can also have great fun with a plastic bottle or a bird feather — especially if you play together, instead of just giving them the item. Be creative, but make sure to let your pet play only with safe objects! In this article, we also recommend some natural options for play.

4.) Don’t Hoard

As in all areas of life, it is important in pet keeping not to buy unnecessary things, nor to accumulate even the necessary ones. For example, if your pet needs clothes, buy them two good-quality pieces — so one can be washed — rather than many cheaper ones. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it with the better-quality ones either; your pet won’t care about the style or colour, only about the function and comfort — focus on these when shopping. Similarly, you don’t need to go overboard with the already mentioned toys, beds, scratching posts or other accessories either.

Preventing and treating illnesses early is better for both animal welfare and your wallet

5.) Don’t Save On Vet Visits

From a human point of view, this mostly concerns finances, but for the animal, their wellbeing is clearly at stake: don’t skip medical check-ups, and don’t take breaks in parasite prevention either. Neither is unnecessary! If a routine check-up reveals that your companion has some problem, it can still be treated in time — more effectively and, at the same time, more cheaply. Preventing parasites also means avoiding serious diseases, the treatment of which — if even possible — would cost a lot of money, time and effort. So in every respect, prevention and early detection are what “pay off”.

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