The sustainable pet household
2026-08-24T00:00:00+10:00
Simple, practical ways to care for dogs, cats, chickens and other pets more sustainably, from smarter feeding choices to greener waste habits, without compromising on love or wellbeing.
In summary
- Around 73 per cent of Australian households now keep a pet, totalling some 31.6 million companion animals.
- Food is usually the biggest environmental impact, with one study putting dog food at around 90 per cent of a dog’s climate impact.
- Before choosing sustainable products or food, it’s worth considering whether a pet actually suits the life you have, given the years of care involved.
We don’t fall in love with a pet and then pause to think about its environmental footprint. We bring them home because they make life better. That love is real – but so is the footprint that comes with it.
In Australia, around 73 per cent of households now have at least one pet, some 31.6 million companion animals. So the useful question isn’t whether pets are good or bad. But how we can care for the ones we love with less waste and environmental harm?
As organic gardeners, this already makes sense. We think about what we put into the soil, what is produced, what can be reused, and what helps or harms the soil and waterways.
Environmental impact of pets
When you bring a pet home, there’s a long list of things that can become waste: bedding, plastic toys, food packaging, poo bags. They add to landfill, but whether your pet has four legs or none, feathers, fur or fins, the largest impact usually comes from food.
One life-cycle study put dog food at around 90 per cent of the average dog’s climate impact. What’s in the food matters more than the bag or tin it comes in, and wet, raw and meat-rich foods usually create more greenhouse gases than dry.
Food is the biggest issue, but not the only one. Pet waste, cat litter, flea and worming treatments, water, power and wildlife all matter. Some flea and worming chemicals can wash into waterways and harm aquatic life.
Should you get a pet at all?
Before looking at sustainable products or food, it’s worth pausing on the decision that comes first. Should you get a pet?
That sounds tough, but it just means matching the animal to the life you actually have, not the one you imagine.
A dog may need 12 or more years of food, walks, vet care, grooming and attention. A cat may live into its teens. Chickens need secure housing away from foxes. Fish need power, filtration and careful water management. Reptiles and birds have specialised needs, easy to underestimate.
Pick up Issue 167 of ABC Organic Gardener in stores now to read the rest of this story on sustainable pet care, or subscribe at mymagazines.com.au to get every issue delivered straight to your door.
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