Submitted by Purina.

We all have a role to play in caring for the planet, including our pets. Even furry family members can have an impact on the environment, and it’s up to pet owners to help keep their eco paw prints in check.

There are many ways you can provide for your four-legged friends while making responsible choices for the environment. Here are a few from the pet experts at Purina:

Play with recycled (or DIY) pet toys

Plenty of dog and cat toys use recycled products or are made from renewable natural resources. Choosing pet toys made with food-grade recycled and/or recyclable materials is a simple way to make sustainable choices on behalf of pets.

Better yet, consider making toys for your pets using upcycled materials you have at home to keep your leftover packaging out of the landfill. For cats, DIYers can make their own wand toys or puzzle feeders with items found in your home.

Feed your pet responsibly sourced and sustainably produced food

According to a new survey from Purina, 92 percent of pet owners are interested in learning from where their pets’ food is sourced. Ingredient sourcing and traceability are important factors when considering what food to purchase, and this is especially true among younger generations. Sixty-eight percent of Gen Z pet owners say they care more about how their pet’s food is sourced than they do their own.

A little research can go a long way when seeking high-quality nutrition for pets from eco-conscious companies. One example is Purina, which takes care in using ingredients that are nutritionally beneficial for pets while helping to offset the environmental impacts of the human food system. The company recently created a traceability map so that pet owners can see where key ingredients in their pet’s Purina food come from.

Williamsburg Township will be home to a Purina pet food factory in 2023, and the company is committed to using natural resources efficiently throughout its manufacturing process to help care for the planet and the local community. The factory will achieve zero waste for disposal and the electricity used to produce popular brands like Dog Chow and Purina ONE will come from 100 percent renewable sources by 2025.

Recycle your packaging, where available

Doing your part as a pet owner also means recycling on behalf of your furry friend. For cat owners, cat litter has seen environmental advancements in recent years. For an eco-friendly option, you can choose Purina’s Yesterday’s News Cat Litter, which is made from recycled newspaper, or Tidy Cats Naturally Strong, which is available in jugs made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic and boxes made from Sustainable Forestry Initiative certified materials. Both packages can be recycled when empty and clean.

When feeding your pet wet food, which is packaged in an aluminum or steel can, make sure to recycle it once it’s empty, and keep in mind that any cardboard from variety packs can also be recycled. Purina is committed to making 100 percent of its packaging reusable or recyclable by 2025. More than 80 percent of Purina’s packaging is recyclable and the company is working on solutions to transition the remaining 20 percent of its packaging toward meeting that goal.

Today there are many choices for pet owners looking for food, toys and other supplies made in an eco-friendly way. Picking products made from sustainably minded companies can help keep your pets happy and our planet healthy