Going Green
Makers of dog products are embracing their earth-friendly sideby A. Pace
Itchin' for Relief, part of Happy Tails Spa's environmentally-friendly product line
We all know it's true: it's so important to be green! And while we definitely applaud the little things that can make a big difference like being sure to turn off the lights, recycling, unplugging our appliances and saving water (hear the applause?), we stop everything and downright salute when we come across companies, and dog-friendly companies at that, that build their philosophies around being environmentally friendly, ecologically sound, and just all-around good citizens. With that in mind, we're taking a peek at three companies - offering everything from canine spa products to designer dog couture to outdoor gear and rugged toys - that are working to do exactly that.
First up, Happy Tails Spa (www.happytailspa.com), co-founded by Lorna Paxton and Kevin Fisher: two veterans of the human health and beauty industry with backgrounds in cosmetics and nutritional supplements. Happy Tails Spa is a pet grooming product company with a very environmentally conscious heart. With an eye toward developing "problem solution" products, Happy Tails Spa has created a line of natural and eco-friendly products for the hound for everything that may (or may not) ail them.
As dog owners themselves, the team at Happy Tails Spa took notice of the various health, beauty, and (ahem) odor issues that popped up within their own packs. Determined to help with the creation of all-natural, cruelty-free products that actually worked, a company was born. Their product line is a dizzying array of specialized shampoos and conditioners (including elixirs for calming, conditioning or shine), treatments for dry and itchy skin, remedies for sore joints, and solutions for bad breath and doggie odor.
Tux, part of West Paw Design's Zogoflex environmentally-friendly product line
In all their products, Happy Tails Spa strives to use all natural ingredients, a commitment that has a positive impact on landfills and on the environment as a whole, and they're doing more as well. Lorna Paxton tells us, "Last year we took it a step further and started bottling our products in post consumer resin, that's basically recycled plastic. Another cool thing we're doing is using "tree-free" labels, printed on a material that uses no paper or water to produce very little waste." Cool indeed.
Happy Tails Spa also takes a great extra step by offsetting their carbon emissions at carbonfund.org (a really great organization by the way that if you haven't already checked out, by all means you should.)
FouFouDog (foufoudog.com), a Richmond Hill, Ontario designer of dog couture, was started by Cheryl Ng who found herself both inspired by and in need of some good clothes for her Maltese, Ernie. Since then they’ve been turning out fashionable canine wear inspired by human clothing and accessories with an eye toward both keeping up with chic trends and also being affordable. From day one, the team at FouFouDog has always been concerned with the comfort and safety of the pets they design for, and in 2008 they widened that concern and directed it toward the environment as well with their "Go Green!" campaign. At the start of their commitment to going green, FouFouDog released large, branded reusable bags that people can use at grocery stores, around town, and for travel. They also created environmentally friendly signature FouFouDog puppy blankets.
One of their newest environmentally friendly products is their Donut Bed Set. These cuddly and soft circular beds are made of AZO-free dyes and all the stuffing is made of recycled plastic bottles. We think that's so cool. And for the "set" part, each bed comes with an environmentally friendly puppy blanket and a bone toy.
Eco Bones, part of West Paw Design's environmentally-friendly product line
And we love that FouFou Dog is not only trying to be eco-friendly with the products they manufacture but also in their workplace, as FouFou Dog's Evelyn Yu explains, "Our goal is to reduce consumption of resources by changing our approach to everyday administrative tasks in the office, like reducing paper use, changing to energy efficient light bulbs and implementing mandatory recycling bins at each desk." FouFouDog reduced their paper use last year by fifty percent by opting to put their catalogs online rather than printing and mailing them. They're off to a great start, keeping both the environment and style in mind.
Last but certainly not least, West Paw Design (www.westpawdesign.com) is committed from tip to tail to all things eco-correct. Green from the very start (in fact the founded their company with the idea of being as eco-friendly as possible firmly in mind) West Paw Designs offers an array of environmentally sound products ranging from great outdoorsy apparel such as sweaters and rain jackets to eco-friendly dog beds, pillows, and mats, to super durable dog toys made conscientiously with materials that are both recycled and recyclable. Talk about burning the candle from both ends in only the very best way. In fact, much of the apparel (for both humans and canines) from West Paw Designs is not only made from recycled materials, but can even be recycled again once you're done with them--years from now, of course!
From a "small but mighty" company that describes itself as "dedicated not only to creating safe, fun and durable products for your pets, but also to making a contribution to the bigger picture," that thrives on brainstorming and teamwork, one of their favorite products is their Zogoflex line of toys that are super durable, long lasting, and inspire a great devotion on the part of pets.
Spencer Williams, the President of West Paw Designs. has long been invested with the environment. "I grew up on a ranch in Montana," he tells us, "and had a great appreciation for taking care of the earth and cultivating it in a sustainable way." As a passionate pet owner, Williams believed that his enthusiasm for his own dog would help inspire new designs and business opportunities, and he was absolutely right. West Paws Design's tradition of leveraging a passion for pets and the environment has created some awesome dog wear, toys, and beds, and today the company measures its success not only in terms of business but also in terms of sustainability. Well done, we say.
Well done, we say to all these companies who are not only making cool and exciting eco-friendly products for the canine marketplace but also taking great steps in their own workplaces to help the environment. We applaud them, and we're following suit. Pampered Puppy is committed to a 100% paper-free office within the next six months. Go, dog, go...Green!
