Cuddles for our pets... with zero impact!
On Sustainable Gate you will find a new selection of sustainable accessories for pets: leashes and collars, toys, kennels and clothing for your four-legged friends, perfect for pampering your pet in full respect of the environment!
For three years now, Sustainable Gate has been advising and supporting you in your ethical and sustainable shopping, helping you to find numerous sustainable fashion brands for women, men and children and giving you useful advice and inspiration. These days we have decided to implement on our platform a section dedicated to brands that offer sustainable accessories for pets.
This new area of the site is entirely dedicated to our four-legged friends, with a wide choice of sustainable accessories for pets.
This area was created with the aim of covering a market sector that is currently expanding rapidly and can therefore affect a growing number of consumers.
Due to the pandemic period and the – at least partial – spread of smart working, in fact, in our country (Italy) people who have welcomed a pet into their home are growing strongly compared to pre-pandemic years. According to the data of the 34th Italy Eurispes Report, 37.7% of Italians of legal age responded positively to the question “do you have pets?”, against 33% of affirmative answers in 2017. Most respondents chose to live with only one pet, although 8.2% have two and 4.9% three. But who are the animals most present in the homes of Italians? Dogs and cats remain at the top of the charts: 44.7% of those living with an animal have a dog, 35.4% a cat. This is followed by fish (5.1%), birds (4.2%), turtles (2.6%) and the rodent segment, which includes for example rabbits (2%) and hamsters (1.1%). Expanding on Europe, the Fediaf Annual Report 2022 certifies the presence of about 90 million households that include at least one pet, with over 113 million cats and 92 million dogs living in the old continent.
According to the 2022 Assalco-Zoomark Report, focused on Itlay, 96% of respondents believe that today pets are increasingly considered as members of the family in which they live: a figure that highlights a change not only in numbers, but also in culture. The same Report also highlights how the increase in the pet population is inevitably reflected in a positive trend in consumption linked to the sector, from food to hygiene products, from toys to accessories. According to Eurispes data mentioned before, 60% of pet parents in Italy spend between 30 and 100 euros per month. Only 22.5% of the sample of respondents spends on average less than 30 euros per month, while 18.1% allocates a budget of even more than 100 euros per month to their pet. The situation at European level is similar again: according to the CPG Household and Pet Care Report by Edge of Ascential, spending on pet care in Europe is set to grow until 2023, reaching 203 billion dollars. A fact that the study links to the constant humanization of pets in our continent, and the fact that our four-legged friends are increasingly perceived as effective family members.
These figures therefore tell us about a market that does not seem to be facing setbacks.
Just as in the case of “human” fashion, however, making conscious and sustainable purchasing choices is not always easy if you do not know where to start in the selection of brands.
The brands that we find in large retail chains and specialized stores, in fact, are often comparable to fast fashion, with products with little (or no) attention to raw materials, to the conditions of the workers involved in the production process, to durability etc.
The environmental impact of pets must, of course, consider many other aspects, from food to the effects on wildlife, from the production of waste to the consumption of resources, but also considering the sustainability of what you buy for our pet is important.
This does not mean that we have to give up the company of pets, but on the other hand it certainly means that we have to start making more informed choices in this area too. The sustainable choices that we can start implementing are really numerous: from the selection of more balanced food, which does not contain an excessive (and impactful) amount of protein, to the correct disposal of excrement, to the attention to be paid so that our animal does not risk damaging the ecosystem during its raids outdoors. However, purchasing choices are another aspect not to be underestimated: buying sustainable accessories for pets makes the little vices that we give to our beloved pet much greener!
In the new section on Sustainable Gate you will be spoilt for choice: whatever object your pet needs, finding the right sustainable accessories for pets will be very easy.
One of our favorite brands in this industry, for example, is Triskin. The motive is (not) soon said: the reasons are really numerous! First of all, on the Triskin website you can find many sustainable accessories for pets, with a particular focus on dogs but with some objects also dedicated to cats. All Triskin clothing and accessories are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and are handcrafted in their Veronese social tailoring. In addition, Triskin is a non-profit organization and the profits generated are destined to create jobs for women over 50. All the professionals who work in Triskin also fall into this category. Triskin is part of the Galileo Social Cooperative, an Italian organization that includes several projects and that combines quality and professionalism with job creation.
In Triskin, great attention is then paid to the selection of materials: for example, the surplus fabrics of other textile collections and prestigious high fashion companies are exploited, thus giving new life to materials that would otherwise have to be discarded. In addition, the brand selects high-quality organic fabrics or fabrics with a high percentage of regenerated fibers, also paying attention to selecting small parts, such as buttons and elastics, made without processes harmful to the environment. In general, when possible, GRS-certified materials are used, which favor the reduction of resource consumption and must contain at least 20% of recycled materials. Attention to the environment that does not fade even when it comes to packaging: the envelopes used for the products are made of fabrics deriving from production surpluses, so not only is given a second life to materials otherwise designed to landfills, but easily reusable packaging is also created. Finally, suppliers are selected from among those who put into practice the principles of environmental sustainability and with a location as close as possible to the tailoring, in order to reduce as much as possible the environmental impact related to the transport of materials. In short, Triskin is a brand that really does its best to put into practice an ethical business model and offer great sustainable accessories for pets!
In the online boutique, among the many proposals of sustainable accessories for pets, you will surely find what is right for you. The new 2022 autumn-winter collection, for example, includes the garments of the URBAN line, designed especially for dogs living in city apartments: really useful garments, essential for outdoor pet walks when they are used to living in heated houses, protecting them from humidity, rain and cold. No frills or unnecessary accessories, but sober and technical garments, usable for many consecutive winters, because they are made with wear-resistant fabrics that are easy to maintain, as well as being all of recycled, regenerated or leftover origin. Finding the perfect garment for the winter outings of your four-legged friend within this collection will be really simple, of any size is your dog and regardless of how cold it is in your area. In fact, you will find technopile sweaters and tracksuits made with recycled yarns, but also trenches and waterproof coats ideal for the coldest winters.
Whether you need to prepare for the arrival of a new pet in the family, replace a damaged leash or look for a toy for your pet, in the new dedicated area you will find what you need, always with an eye to sustainability.
Dog harness made of recycled polyester
Organic cotton toy for dogs
Hemp bandana for pets, with GOTS merino wool embroidery
Sustainable dog waterproof jacket
Recycled dog toy
Dog bag carrier made of organic cotton & recycled polyester
Dog harness made of recycled plastic bottles
Dog bad made of recycled plastic bottles
Hemp dog collar
Sustainable dog jumper made of lambs wool
Vegan cat collar made of cork leather
Natural wool leash
Organic cotton dog mats
Eco-friendly scratching post for cats
For example, when you prepare to welcome a new pet into your family, there are some really essential accessories that you will not be able to do without. The first purchase par excellence to prepare for a new entry into the house is often the collar. For a dog, why not choose an eco-friendly product like this brand‘s hemp collar? Thanks to the availability from XS to XL it is perfect for dogs of all sizes! As in the case of “human” fashion, hemp is a fiber with numerous advantages: it is hypoallergenic, highly resistant, has antibacterial properties and is biodegradable. And, as if that were not enough, its cultivation is much less impactful than, for example, that of cotton.
For a cat, however, the vegan leather collar model of this sustainable brand is really ideal: it is made of cork obtaining a leather-like effect with sustainable and vegan materials. It also has a snap closure for the safety of your four-legged friend and is embellished with a removable bell.
Getting the new four-legged friend used to walking outside will be really important: choose a leash that is not only functional but also environmentally friendly! You will find many in our directory, such as this one in natural wool from a Spanish brand. Natural wool is a highly resistant material, strong and suitable for walking even in the rain. The details of the leash are made of bronze, designed to resist over time without rusting.
Equally essential during walks is the harness: whether you have to look for one for a newcomer, for a grown-up puppy or to replace your old worn harness, among our sustainable accessories for pets you will surely find the most suitable. This, for example, is by a brand focused entirely on dog products and is available in three sizes to comfortably dress small and large sizes, padded and adjustable to fit perfectly any dog. All made of recycled polyester GRS certified and with brass elements not chemically treated: an essential, practical and beautiful object, which uses fabrics derived from recycled plastic. An equally valid alternative is the harness of this brand, also available in different sizes from S to XXL, easy to wear, practical and extremely comfortable during all movements. Also in this case, there is a wide use of recycled materials, such as fabrics derived from recycled plastic bottles.
Among the brands included in our directory, browsing among the many sustainable accessories for pets, you will also find many other sustainable clothing proposals.
For example, the raincoat of this all-Italian brand will be very useful during your dog’s walks on the coldest days and to protect the most delicate breeds even on mild days. Rainproof and with eco-friendly padding, it will keep your pet warm and dry! In addition, it is handmade in Italy using an innovative post-consumer material obtained from the recovery of plastic bottles. Equally warm and enveloping is also the sweater of an English brand, made with high quality and natural yarns such as wool, finished by hand with care.
If you are looking for a discreet but nice accessory, we suggest the hemp bandana by an ethical Australian brand: it is handmade from GOTS certified organic merino wool and has an original embroidery. An object with a cheerful and positive message, thanks to the embroidered rainbow, but also sustainable and suitable for every season!
All these examples highlight an essential feature of sustainable pet accessories that you can find on our site: they are beautiful, they are certainly sustainable, but they are also practical and comfortable, designed to discreetly accompany your pet in daily activities and movements, without imposing restrictions or constraints.
Essential items, such as leashes and collars, clothing, but not only: among our sustainable accessories for pets you can also find toys and small amenities.
Perfect for cats, for example, is the eco-friendly scratching post designed to potentially last forever of this brand focused on cats. Traditional scratching posts, in fact, often have to be replaced because they are excessively damaged only in some places. This model, on the other hand, allows you to remove and replace only the most damaged parts. The various replaceable sections are made with a special mix of ecological materials, including a wood-like material derived from rice waste and recycled cardboard.
If you are looking for a game to keep your dog busy and alert, we suggest the one made with cotton and recycled plastic by this brand: it is specifically designed to be bitten or scrambled as puppies (but not only) know how! The distinctive feature, in addition to the exclusive use of waste materials? The cute kangaroo shape!
For the last summer trips, are you looking for the perfect game to take to the sea, the lake or the pool? Then choose this from an Austrian brand, designed to be exploited in any context but perfect for playing in the water and made of organic cotton.
Finally, if you are looking for among our sustainable accessories for pets the ideal one to make your pet feel comfortable and at ease wherever it is, again we suggest many alternatives to choose from.
Perfect for every corner of the house is for example the dog bed made of material derived from recycled plastic bottles. Made by a sustainable English brand and with a cozy shape, it will make your dog feel always comfortable and safe. Perfect to be moved and taken with you on a trip, it is the mat of a brand specializing in these products. It is made of durable organic cotton, perfect therefore also for dogs with more sensitive skin and is easily machine washable to be used for a long time without problems! Instead, are you looking for a solution for small dogs that want to follow their humans everywhere? The organic cotton bag from this brand is perfect for taking your little friend with you on the streets of the city or on public transport.
