How & Why We Keep Our Dog Grooming Products Plastic-Free

It’s no secret that plastic has a negative impact on the environment, wildlife, oceans, and even humans. But avoiding plastic can be challenging.

Documentaries like Seaspiracy, Plastic Planet, and Trashed have brought the negative impacts of plastic to the forefront. Nearly 300 million tons of plastic are produced each year, with half of that for single-use products alone. We live in a society that thrives on convenience, and single-use plastic offers that. But at what cost?

We all have a part to play when it comes to curbing the negative impact of plastic pollution and plastic waste. As a business, we at Doglyness have a fantastic opportunity to encourage change by offering zero-waste alternatives to products often packaged in plastic. Dog grooming products are often packaged in plastic bottles, but that didn’t sit right with us. So, we found another way!

But how do we keep our dog grooming products plastic-free? And why did we decide to go this route in the first place?

Why do we keep our dog grooming products plastic-free?

Plastic is almost everywhere we look. It’s the most inexpensive and convenient packaging option available; therefore, many companies choose to use plastic over more sustainable, environmentally friendly options. Even more troubling is that it’s cheaper to produce new plastic than to recycle plastic already in circulation, resulting in an even higher volume of plastic production and waste. Only about 9% of plastic is actually recycled, with 79% ending up in landfills where it outlasts us, our children, and even our children’s children. And we refuse to be part of that statistic.

The majority of plastic waste ends up in landfill, with only 9% recycled.

Here are some of the ways that plastic is negatively impacting the planet and why we chose to be plastic-free:

Negative impact on the environment and oceans

Although you may not see it firsthand, plastic is ruining our environment and our oceans. As we stated before, only about 9% of plastic is recycled, and much of it ends up in our waterways and oceans. Rain, wind, and drainage systems carry plastic into lakes and oceans, where it often clumps together in large forms, such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Marine life gets trapped in these ‘rafts’ of garbage or ends up eating plastic when mistaking it for food, both leading to death. Plastic in the ocean can also cling to coral, increasing the likelihood of disease from 4% to 89%, according to Science.org. And with 50% of the world’s coral reefs lost in the last 30 years, we really can’t afford to lose anymore.

How about on land? As plastic degrades, it leaches toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment. This leachate contaminates our soil and water systems and can even end up in our drinking water in the form of microplastics. In a study from OrbMedia, over 80% of water samples from taps and bottled water contained microplastics (this study took place across 14 different countries). The United States was the most troubling, with over 94% of water samples contaminated with microplastics.

Plastic harms wildlife

As humans, when we see plastic waste, we know exactly what it is. But to wildlife, it can spark their curiosity or look like a potential food source. Animals can get their heads trapped inside plastic containers leading to suffocation or dehydration. They can also become entangled in plastics inhibiting their ability to hunt or find water or causing deadly wounds.

Sea turtles often mistake plastic waste for food such as jellyfish.

Wildlife often digests plastic, which can clog up intestines, damage internal organs and slice soft inner tissues. Some of the animals most impacted by plastic pollution are marine birds. The United Nations Environment Program estimates that 1 million sea birds die per year as a result of plastic, primarily due to ingestion. You can find their insightful and thorough report on marine litter here.

Contributes to global warming

Plastic is produced from petrochemicals, such as natural gas and petroleum. Refining these petrochemicals into plastic emits high volumes of carbon, creating greenhouse gases. 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions are associated with plastic production, and that’s not even touching the emissions from paste waste. Most plastic waste ends up either in the ocean or in our landfills.

The plastic that makes its way to landfills degrades over time. But the process can take 400 years or more. During this time, plastic will emit greenhouse gases, including methane, when it’s exposed to the sun. So, each piece of plastic will continue to contribute to global warming for hundreds of years.

How we keep our dog grooming products plastic-free

There have been some incredible innovations in the plastic-free beauty industry, from shampoo and conditioner bars to plastic-free deodorant and even lipstick in cardboard tubes. But one industry that has been behind the curve is the pet industry, which produces about 300 million pounds of plastic annually. Most of the dog grooming products available come in plastic bottles. But if the beauty industry can make their products plastic-free, why can’t the pet industry too?

All our grooming products come in 100% plastic-free packaging.

At Doglyness, it’s always been our moral obligation to deliver high-quality, natural, organic dog grooming products in the most sustainable way possible. Which is why we did our research to determine if there was a more eco-friendly way of packaging dog grooming products. Our mission was to be the first certified organic, all-natural pet coat care product in a plastic-free bottle to lead the industry towards a more sustainable future. And we achieved it by becoming the first pet brand in the industry to use a new and innovative form of plastic-free, compostable packaging. All products in our coat care line are developed with our mission in mind so we can be authentically transparent with our customers.

Introducing – Veganbottle

Veganbottle is a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging, using 100% raw and compostable materials derived from sugarcane and other plant materials. The bottle is made entirely from natural ingredients which require limited resources to farm and manufacture, reducing the environmental impact. The finished product is biodegradable and industrially compostable, leaving behind no toxic residue. Even the bottle labels are made with compostable adhesive and the ink is food safe.

You can compost the entire bottle together, making it convenient for our customers to properly dispose of it. We are so happy to have built a partnership with such an amazing initiative, enabling us to supply our sustainable product to pet owners everywhere! We are the first brand in the pet industry to use this form of innovative packaging.

Veganbottle is made from sugarcane extracts and is entirely compostable.

Our commitment to zero-plastic and the environment

Our products are entirely compostable, even down to the label! Doglyness has banned any plastic or non-sustainable materials in the production, packaging, shipping, and storage of our products. And we are committed to doing so for life! There is no reason you can’t take great care of your pooch without contributing to plastic waste. And since we ship worldwide, without plastic, there’s no reason you can’t reduce your pet’s plastic consumption no matter where you live.

But don’t just take our word for it! We want all our customers to feel as confident in Doglyness as we are which is why we’ve obtained certifications for all our products so you can feel good about your purchase. Our promises are grounded in proof points including:

• ECOGEA Certified Organic
• ECOGEA Certified Vegan
• Plastic-free
• Cruelty-free

Our commitment to the environment and sustainability goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to your pets!

Our ‘No Nasties’ pledge and Doglyness innovation

Beyond our commitment to zero plastic we are also committed to providing entirely environmentally friendly products containing locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. We use botanical sources and thoroughly test them for quality, safety and efficacy. Then each ingredient is listed on our website with their scores from the Environmental Working Group, which analyzes ingredients based on their toxicity level. It’s important to use that our products are as natural as possible to ensure the safety of your pet and the environment, and to prove that you don’t need harsh chemical grooming products to keep your dogs coat in tip-top condition.

We are proud that pet groomers, breeders and industry experts have placed their trust in our product. In less than two years Doglyness has already been recognized by many pet industry organizations thanks to our quality products and our innovations in sustainable pet care. Some of these include:

• 2021 Pet Industry Federation Awards: Product Innovation Award Finalist
• 2021 Pet Industry Federation Awards: Sustainability Award Finalist
• Barkleigh Honors Awards: New Product of the Year

Want to know more about reducing your pet’s environmental ‘paw’ print? Check out some of our top eco-friendly tips for your dog here.

Start your plastic-free dog grooming journey today!

We can all be more conscious about our plastic consumption and seek ways to reduce the amount we purchase and use. Taking reusable bags when shopping, using a reusable water bottle, and buying things in eco-friendly packaging are great places to start. But to really have an impact, we need to support brands and companies that are paving the way for significant changes across all industries.

At Doglyness, it’s our mission to inspire other companies in the pet industry to follow our lead and switch to plastic-free, sustainable packaging. With your support, we can help increase the demand for plastic-free dog grooming products so that the entire industry can shift in that direction. Click here to check out some of our great plastic-free dog grooming products.