The fact that dogs like lounging on couches is no secret to most owners. Although, we enjoy their company as they lay with us on our couches, yet sometimes we wish they would just get off. One way to get them off is to get them a dog bed.
While many folks choose to go for custom dog beds, getting an eco-friendly one comes with so many benefits such as the reduction of carbon emission. These products are environmentally safe and won’t harm your pooch as well.
Therefore, in this article, we will reveal some important things you should know about eco-friendly dog beds. This will enable you to choose the best type for your furry friend.
How Do You Identify Eco-Friendly Beds?
These products are manufactured using a process that is environmentally friendly by selecting materials that are regarded as ecologically safe. The strategies used for retailing these products are equally ecologically friendly.
During the manufacturing process, manufacturers only select chemicals that will not harm the atmosphere. Lead is a major culprit responsible for environmental harm. It is also common, given that you can find it in the dyes of fabric. Flame retardants are also not used since they hurt the environment.
Manufacturers use retail strategies of this product that are equally ecologically friendly. They make use of materials such as plastics, paper, metals, etc. for packaging the products. This way, raw materials are saved, the emissions of greenhouse gases and energy are reduced.
What Materials are Eco-Friendly Dog Beds Made Of?
It is important to mention that getting a purely eco-friendly dog bed that is rare. Hence, there is no universal standard for these products. Therefore, certain products are better than the rest depending on the features and materials.
The following are the labels that you might see when you go looking for an eco-friendly bed should have:
Recycled
This sort of material protects the environment since such non-biodegradable refuse is reduced. Hence, many manufacturers make use of fillings that are gotten from recycled materials such as plastic bottles. Visit https://www.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/recycling to learn more about recycling. The outer covering could also be from textiles that have been recycled. For packaging and shipping, the materials used by some manufacturers are recycled.
Sustainable
When we talk about sustainability, three factors are important which include renewability, non-toxic (harm-free), and natural growth. These materials are naturally found in abundance in nature. Hence, they can be made at a fast speed.
Examples of sustainable materials include organic cotton, wood, recycled plastic, bamboo, linen, etc. These materials are usually used as bed fillings or outer covering. Some beds include a dry paper or bamboo frame. This will ensure that the product is not non-polluting.
Organic Fibers
Textile products are only rated “organic” if the amount of certified organic fibers it contains is at least 95%. This is a standard set by the GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). On the other hand, a GOTS-certified textile item must contain at least 70% organic certified fibers.
When we talk about organic fibers, we are referring to fibers that were grown without substances such as GMOs, synthetic pesticides, and insecticides. The fibers must also conform to organic agriculture principles.
These days, cotton, hemp flax, wool, etc. are used for making dog beds.
What Should You Look for When Choosing an Eco-friendly Bed
The following are the things you should look for when choosing an eco-friendly bed for your pooch:
1. Size
Size is important whether you are getting a lounge-like or pillow bed. Before you get this product, you must ensure that your doggy is comfortable by picking one that fits it. Hence, measure your poodle first before selecting one.
You should get one that is larger than your dog rather than one that is smaller. This will ensure that your tyke does not get body pains in the end. Click here to treat pain in your dog.
2. Material
The material the bed is constructed from plays a vital role in the comfort your poodle will experience when it uses it. You can choose removable covers that are manufactured from hemp flax, cotton. You can even choose those made from synthetic fabrics provided you treat them with wool or coconut coir. Another alternative is to choose fibers gotten from plastic bottles that are recycled.
Irrespective of what you choose, ensure that the material is free from every chemical substance.
3. Filling
Getting all the features you desire in a product might not be possible if you go for a “green” product. If your tyke has health issues, the product you choose should provide some alleviation from such issues. A typical example is an orthopedic foam; however instead of using orthopedic dog beds for your pet, you can select a product that uses natural materials as its stuff-sack covering.
If the mutt has no issues, you can go for organic filling alternatives such as wool and latex, coconut coir, or recycled textiles.
4. Washable
The material you select must be one that can be washed easily and still last for long despite how many times it is washed. This is vital given that your dog is most likely to dirty the bed. Even if your poodle is a clean dog, washing the bed is necessary maintenance.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed certain important things that you should know about eco-friendly beds. We have shared with you how to identify these kinds of products, the materials they are constructed from, and what you should look for when you go shopping for one.
Love our content? Share it with a friend or link it to social media. Like short clips of cute household pets? Training tips? Follow us on instagram @nydognanny or on YouTube at nydognanny. Have some news you needs to get to dog and cat parents stat? Email info@newyorkdognanny.com with your article pitch.
