Eco-friendly Dog Bed Fillings
Some earth-friendly options for cushiony comfort...
Wool
CeCe's Wool: My Best Friend Wool Dog Beds
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Renewable and biodegradable, wool has many benefits besides being eco-friendly. Breathable and insulating, it can help to keep pup cool in the summer, warm in the winter, typically lasts a long time (somewhat dependent on how tough pup is on beds...) and it's known for not supporting germs, microbes and bacteria. The CeCe Wool dog beds have an all wool filling, with a sturdy muslin cotton canvas cover, complete with zipper for taking off and washing.
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With plenty of cushioning provided in 5 inches of loft, the beds (filling + cover) are available in medium (24 x 24 inches), large (25 x 35) and extra-large (35 x 45 inches); priced at $112, $149 and $227, respective. Muted solid colors of brown, tan, olive, khaki, natural and navy are currently offered as choices for the cover. You can browse options on their CeCe's Wool website. And, if you have a smaller pup and are just looking for filling to put in a cover of your choice, you may be able to try one of their pillows as an insert.
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Kapok
Former Fibres Kapok Stuffing
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If you're looking to design your own bed, or perhaps stuff an eco-friendly cover, all natural Kapok fill may be something to consider. Made from the fibers of the Kapok tree, it is a sustainable product and biodegradable. Somewhat silk-like, it is soft and luxurious, and an alternative fill for people-pillows, starting to make an entrance into the pet world. As it can be quite fine (think of down floating through your house), and not something you'd want pup to ingest, it is best suited to a more mature, non-chewing napster.
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You can find bags with stuffing for small, medium or large beds (ranging in price from roughly $60 to $170), as well as top-off bags for a little extra loft (~$32 - $70), at the Former Fibres website. The shop owner also has some complete beds with Kapok filling inside upcycled covers you could purchase pre-made, or their is also an option for custom beds. If you like unique pieces that are planet-friendly, one of these may suit your tastes.
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Recycled Plastic
Harry Barker Rectangle & Round Bed Inserts
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Hypo-allergenic, post-consumer plastic fill is a good alternative to virgin polyester fill. Though not biodegradable, these do make good use of discarded plastic bottles, keeping them out of oceans and landfills. For those looking for a more eco-friendly option that is similar to what is now traditionally thought of as "stuffing," this may be a good next step.
Harry Barker offers three plump rectangle options, all 5 inches thick, and channel stitched to better keep the filling in place for continued cushiony comfort. Small measures 20 x 26 inches, medium 29 x 36 and large 36 x 44, priced at $80, $90 and $100, respectively. There are also round inserts available, sized at 25 inches ($80), 35 inches ($90) and 45 inches ($100) in diameter, and also 5 inches thick and channel stitched. You can purchase just the insert and choose your own cover, or you can also purchase a complete bed. From tweeds to trendy stripes, chic checks to classic solids, you and your pup can rest assured you're helping the planet in style. You can see their full collection in the Sleep section of the Harry Barker website.
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P.L.A.Y. Replacement Bed Fillers
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Pet Lifestyle and You (P.L.A.Y.) understands that pup's bed may need a little lift, or that you may want to choose your own cover, so they offer several options for bed inserts made from eco-friendly PlanetFill® filler, made from post-consumer recycled plastic. Washable and dryable, the puffy inserts are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including a full set of pillows for a lounger bed (center and all four sides).
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A basic rectangular insert is available in small (28 x 20 x 4 inches), medium (36 x 27 x 5) and large (42 x 31 x 5 inches), ranging in price from $45 to $89. And they also offer round inserts in small, medium and large (28 inches, 36 inches and 42 inches in diameter and 4.5 to 5 inches deep), from $45 to $97. The full lounger bed set starts at $45 for a small, up to $105 for an extra-large. A small price for pup's comfort and to keep plastic out of the environment. You can shop all the available shapes and sizes on the P.L.A.Y website.
