Do you have an ever-growing pile of clothes in your closet? From jeans to jackets, skirts to shirts, many people view clothing as an extension of the self and develop a certain style to show the world who they are.
We get it: shopping is fun. But while buying new clothes, experimenting with style, and keeping up with the latest fashion trends may bring short-term pleasure, it also comes with a price.
Sadly, 85% of textiles in the USA end up in landfills or burned. This pollution has drastic and damaging effects on our planet. So, what can we do about it?
Here at The Kind Pet, we’re all about being conscious consumers and reducing our carbon footprints as much as possible.
That can mean many things such as encouraging you to purchase second-hand clothing, engage in clothing swaps with friends, or donate clothing you no longer wear whenever you can.
But another solution that perhaps you haven’t thought of is to take old clothes that are too worn to donate and create a sustainable dog bed for your pet. Repurposing and upcycling your old clothing is a great choice for your furry friend and for our planet!
The Real Cost of Clothing
The cost of clothing is more than the price tag.
As we mentioned, about 85% of clothing in the USA alone, including unused textiles and unsold clothes, end up in landfills or burned.
Statistics further show that the average American throws away about 37kg of clothes each year. Even if we choose to recycle old clothes, about 60% of textiles are not recyclable in the first place.
Unfortunately, most clothes are made with plastic. You’ll likely recognize synthetic fibers as fabrics such as polyester, acrylic, and nylon. These fibers, called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cannot be recycled because they are made from crude oil.
Although various eco-friendly fibers are available to replace plastic in clothes, the fashion industry–particularly fast fashion–is not held accountable by laws or regulations and so continue to use plastics anyway.
Not only does the plastic in clothing cause pollution in oceans and harm marine life, but clothing waste also contributes to climate change. Manufacturers and clothing retailers contribute roughly 10% of all global carbon emissions. 10%!
What to Do with Old Clothing
So now that you know how clothing causes harm to our planet, what can you do about it?
Jennifer and I are always looking for new ways to repurpose whatever we have in our houses and we were so excited to come across some amazing eco-friendly pet bed options from Bean Products!
Their Hemp Canvas Dog Bed Cover lets you stuff your pet's bed with old clothes, towels, or linen. It’s made with breathable 100% hemp canvas material and is both durable and machine washable.
Plus, it’s free from toxic material, including flame retardants, pesticides, phthalates, and PBDEs, so you can rest assured it’s a safe choice for your cat or dog.
Benefits of Stuffing Your Own Dog Bed
If you’re wondering what dog bed is best, we think your pet would agree that the Hemp Dog Bed Cover is best because when you stuff it with your things, it smells like you! All those old clothes of yours have your yummy scent all over them. Trust us, your furry friend will find your scent both comfortable and comforting as they curl up to relax, snuggle or sleep.
Another big benefit of using this eco-friendly dog bed is that it saves waste by keeping your clothing out of landfills and contributing to climate change. And you aren't using new, nasty poly fil and other chemical laden materials in the bedding your pet will breathe deeply in for hours on end at nap time.
To illustrate just how big a difference you can make, for every pound of clothing you use to stuff the your own dog bed, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 20 times!
It’s safe to say that stuffing your dog's bed with upcycled clothing is a win for our planet and your pet. By giving your clothes a second life, your furry friend gets to enjoy the best dog bed ever, you get to become part of the solution rather than the problem, and our planet becomes one step closer to being kinder and cleaner.
Are you looking for a pet bed that's already stuffed? Check out this Hemp Canvas Bed Stuffed With Natural Latex for a great sustainable choice.
References:
https://www.petmd.com/care/whisker-fatigue-cats-what-it-and-how-help
https://www.thisdogslife.co/do-you-know-about-the-dangers-lurking-in-your-dogs-water-and-food-bowls/
