Dogs go through a lot of toys in their lifetime, many of which can wreak havoc on the environment. Plastic, rubber, plush filling, and other materials are unsustainable, but you can choose dog toys that are more eco-friendly to do your part for a greener world.
From plush toys with recycled stuffing to chew toys made of repurposed rubber, here are the best eco-friendly dog toys this year, based on reviews from dog owners like you.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
The 8 Best Eco-Friendly Dog Toys
1. West Paw Toppl– Best Overall
Material:
Plastic
Size options:
Small
Size options:
3”L x 3”W x 2.5”H
West Paw Toppl is the best eco-friendly dog toy overall. The toy is made of 100% recyclable, BPA-free, phthalate-free, non-toxic, and FDA-compliant plastic that’s easy to sanitize in the dishwasher to prevent the spread of germs. Dogs can safely eat toys out of the treat as well.
This toy is a puzzle toy that will give your dogs hours of entertainment with ridges and cubbies to hide treats and present a challenge. You can also interlock two different sizes of Toppl toys to make it more challenging for your dog. The toy bounces and stretches, so it can be used for chewing, fetch, or tug-of-war. It also floats if your dog wants to play in water. All West Paw toys are made in Montana with US-sourced materials. Heavy chewers may destroy this toy quickly, however.
Made of recyclable plastic
Can be combined with other Toppl toys
Made in the US
Not suitable for heavy chewers
2. Jax & Bones Louie the Lobster Rope Dog Toy – Best Value
Material:
All-natural cotton with vegetable dye
Size options:
Small, Large, Jumbo
Dimensions:
Small 7”L x 5”W x 1.5”H; Large 9”L x 7”W x 2”H; Jumbo 12”L x 9”W x 2.5”H
The Jax and Bones Louie the Lobster Rope Toy is the best eco-friendly dog toy for the money with its eco-conscious and chemical-free material and construction. The rope is made of 100% all-natural cotton dyed with vegetable dyes, then hand-tied for maximum strength and durability. The toy is 100% machine-washable to keep it safe and clean for your pet. Once the toy is worn, you can compost it safely.
If you have a puppy, you can safely wet the toy and freeze it for teething. The fibers will naturally fray, but that helps clean your dog’s teeth during chewing. If large pieces come apart, you can just toss them in the trash and keep using the toy. It comes in three sizes for different breeds and ages. Reviewers did say that their dogs destroyed the toy within minutes, however. It’s also important to supervise your dog to ensure it doesn’t ingest any fibers.
Cotton with vegetable dye
Hand-tied
Can be composted
May not be durable
Fibers will come apart
3. West Paw Snorkl Dog Chew Toy – Premium Choice
Material:
Plastic
Size options:
Large
Dimensions:
8.25”L x 1.75”W x 6.5”H
West Paw Snorkl Dog Chew Toy is the premium choice for eco-friendly dog toys. Made of safe, non-toxic, recycled plastic that’s free of BPA, phthalates, and latex, the chew toy is fine for your dog to chew or eat food from. It’s also dishwasher safe for sanitation. The design is shaped like a shark jaw to encourage tug-of-war and you can play in or out of water. It also floats!
Like other West Paw toys, this chew toy is made in the USA with US-sourced, eco-conscious materials. It also has a cute ocean-themed design as a nod to its recycled ocean-bound plastic and buoyancy. Several reviews had issues with the toy breaking apart quickly, however, so it may not be good for aggressive chewers.
Recycled ocean-bound plastic
Dishwasher safe
Floats for water play
Not for aggressive chewers
4. Crocodile Sensory Toy – Best for Puppies
Material:
Rubber
Size options:
Small, Medium
Dimensions:
Small 12.17”L x 5.94”W x 1.69”H, Medium 11.61”L x 6.06”W x 2.05”H
The Crocodile Sensory Toy is ideal for puppies with textured surfaces made of BPA-free latex from the Hevea Brasiliensis trees. The rubber is free of chemicals and toxins and designed to comply with the same safety standards as children’s toys. The rubber is durable but soft on teeth to help your puppy while teething.
Like other toys from the Lucas b brand, the Crocodile Sensory Toy is handmade in Morocco by Lanco. It’s available in small or medium to suit different breed sizes. Reviewers did have issues with the toy not lasting or the squeaker not working. Reviewers also said it was much smaller than they expected, so note the dimensions before purchasing.
BPA-free latex
Textured surfaces for teething
Quality control issues
Not durable
5. Sunglow Cotton Rope Toy
Material:
Cotton
Size options:
One size
Dimensions:
5″L x 3″W x 2.5″H
The Sunglow Cotton Rope Toy features a drop rope and tied areas to encourage chewing. The toy is made of 100% cotton with vegetable dyes to ensure it’s safe and non-toxic. With its rope design with a knotted ball, it can be used for tug-of-war or fetch easily. The toy is also bite-resistant with multiple features to encourage your pup to play.
The toy is not advised for large dogs or heavy chewers, but some reviewers said that it was too large for their small breeds. Most reviewers had the toy last a long period of time and hold up to chewing, however.
100% cotton with vegetable dyes
Versatile
Bite-resistant
May be too large for small breeds
Not suitable for large or heavy chewers
6. Wool Balls
Material:
Wool
Size options:
One size
Dimensions:
2.5–3 inches in diameter
These New Zealand Wool Balls come in a set of two balls for games of fetch. The balls are made of 100% solid organic wool with no chemicals or dyes to exercise your dog and clean teeth naturally. Dogs are also attracted to the natural sheep smell that comes from the wool.
These balls may be used indoors and outdoors and can be washed and dried for sanitation and reuse. Along with the toys themselves, these are packaged in a 100% recycled box made from 95% post-consumer content. Reviewers said the balls are firm enough for chewing but soft enough not to injure your dog’s mouth. Some reviewers with heavy chewers said their dogs managed to rip the balls apart quickly.
100% solid organic wool
Free from chemicals and dyes
Washable and dryable
7. Honest Pet Products Eco-Fetcher
Material:
Hemp and wool
Size options:
One size
Dimensions:
9″L x 0.5″w
Honest Pet Products Eco-Fetcher is a Frisbee-like dog toy with natural materials like hemp and wool. This toy behaves like a disc when thrown, but it can also hold up to play like tugging, pulling, and chewing. All materials are recyclable and biodegradable with natural materials made in Wisconsin.
Despite being more durable than cotton, this wool and hemp toy is not intended for aggressive chewers. Reviewers with heavy chewers use the toy as a disc and not a chew toy. Some reviewers also mentioned that it can be difficult to find outdoors because of the natural color, since it’s not dyed at all.
Hemp and wool
Versatile play options
Recyclable and biodegradable
Not for aggressive chewers
Difficult to see outside
8. Honest Pet Products Eco-Quacker Duck Toy
Material:
Hemp
Size options:
Small, Medium, Large
Dimensions:
Small 11”L x 3”W x 1.5”H; Medium 17”L x 3”W x 1.5”H; Large 23”L x 3”W x 1.5”H
Honest Pet Products Eco-Quacker Duck Toy is a squeak toy made of natural, durable hemp, which is stronger than cotton. The hemp is natural and sustainable sourced, completely free from synthetic or plastic materials. It’s also free of toxic stuffing that could be swallowed.
Though it’s a squeak toy, many reviewers said the squeak sounds different than other squeak toys and isn’t very loud, so it takes some work to get dogs interested. Some reviewers said their dog tore the toy up quickly as well. It comes in three sizes so be sure to order the appropriate size for your dog.
Natural hemp
No toxic materials
Quiet squeaker
Not durable
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing an Eco-Friendly Toy for Your Dog
The pet industry has a lot of products that can be toxic to the environment, such as plastics and synthetic dyes or materials. But eco-friendly toys can mean different things to different people, so here are some things to look out for:
Materials
This is arguably the biggest concern with eco-friendly toys. You want sustainable materials that can be recycled or composted for less waste, such as cotton, hemp, wool, bamboo, and rubber. You could also get a toy with recycled plastics, as long as they’re free of BPA and phthalates, which are hazardous to the environment. Materials should also be sustainably sourced.
Green Business Practices
Eco-friendly dog toys extend beyond the material. The best brands will also support all-around sustainable business practices, such as recycling programs, carbon neutral manufacturing, and sourcing from local suppliers. In addition, look for toys that use recycled or recyclable materials for the packaging.
Reusable Products
No dog toy lasts forever, so it’s important not to contribute to plastic waste with your dog’s toys once it’s done with them. The materials mentioned can be recycled or composted, ensuring that you’re not adding to landfills or ocean-bound plastic. You should also look for toys that can be cleaned easily, such as dishwasher-safe and machine-washable toys.
Image Credit: Rozhnovskaya Tanya, Shutterstock
Ethical Practices
Eco-friendly is specific to looking out for the environment, but all-around ethical dog toys are a bit more than that. Many of the toy brands on this list also use ethical practices, such as local manufacturing and sourcing, fair labor practices, and cruelty-free products. These usually go together, but be sure to consider the brand’s ethics and social responsibility as well.
Conclusion
Purchasing eco-friendly dog toys is one way you can play a role in making the world a greener place. Our top pick for eco-friendly dog toys is the West Paw Toppl, which can be combined with other toys. For the best value, choose Jax and Bones Louie the Lobster Rope Toy for its versatility. The premium choice is West Paw Snorkl Dog Chew Toy, a water tug and fetch toy made from ocean-bound plastic.
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