Don’t let those puppy dog eyes, soft fur, and wagging tail fool you, even the cutest pup can chew through most plastic toys (and space in our landfills). So opting for more eco-friendly dog toys is one way to reduce that impact.
Whether your pooch hangs out at home during the day or holds an important job, we love to see them treated with dog toys made from recycled plastic or natural, non-toxic materials.
Note: our brand rating system takes what we look for in sustainable brands much further, including things like customer (in this case pooch) safety, climate action and product performance. Brands need to opt in to be rated. Look out for pawsome rated brands below and find others in our directory.
We independently research all featured brands, and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. We explain this further in our Terms of Use.
Our Top Three Sustainable Dog Toy Picks
If you’re welcoming home a fur friend or updating your current pet product supply, The Kind Pet helps you make sustainable choices with its wide range of zero-waste dog products. The Kind Pet has been comprehensively rated and reviewed by us – find the full rating here.
We know each dog has its own personality, West Paw celebrates that with a wide range of eco pet toys that can be recycled while partial profits fund pet-friendly projects in their locale.
Tug & Go’s tough recycled dog toys made from otherwise wasted materials like old fire hoses help to douse the flames of a plastic-filled toy industry.
Index: Eco-friendly Dog Toys
- The Kind Pet Jump to brand
- West Paw Jump to brand
- Beco Pets Jump to brand
- KONG Jump to brand
- Pawsome Pet Toys Jump to brand
- Ware Of The Dog Jump to brand
The Kind Pet
Compostable
All or some products are compostable, either in an industrial facility or at home
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Handcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
Organic
Products are made from organic materials.
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Small business
This brand is a small business run by less than 15 people
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
GOTS
PSC
GOTS
The GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification is the world’s leading standard for organic fibers. It covers every step of production, from harvesting raw fibers to environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing, and prohibits toxic dyes, GMOs, and harmful chemicals. GOTS also enforces fair labor practices.PSC
The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) membership signifies that a pet brand is actively committed to improving its environmental and social impact. PSC members work toward measurable goals in areas like sustainable sourcing, packaging reduction, carbon footprint, and community engagement, using PSC’s tools and benchmarking frameworks. The coalition fosters collaboration across the pet industry to create a more responsible and regenerative future.The Kind Pet’s Boba & Vespa range has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
The Kind Pet sources products from the most sustainable brands, so you don’t have to sacrifice hours finding a sustainable option, like cork dog harnesses, organic dog paw salve, or sustainable dog treats. Each option on their site comes complete with a “Sustainability” and sourcing tab that clarifies the end-of-life option per product.
Their own range (Boba & Vespa) of dog toys are made with organic materials and come highly rated by customers (see our review and video below).
Our Personal Review Of The Kind Pet’s Boba & Vespa Hemp Bone
“The Hemp Dog Bone, which we got the chance to demo, was a perfect toy for our aging Shepherd who still likes to chew, though her teeth require a softer option. Made of durable hemp canvas, organic cotton filling, thread, and label, after this bone is well chewed (it’s holding up to daily chomps!) it is 100% compostable, so will go right into our garden heap.”
-Review by Shelby Loeppky, SJ Writer
Our Personal Review Of The Better Bone (stocked by The Kind Pet)
“If you’re looking for tough dog toys for bigger dogs, the Better Bone is made of PEFC sustainable forestry-certified wood flour and renewable sugarcane oil. It is safe for aggressive chewers and doesn’t splinter. It had its work cut out for it with our 11-month-old Australian Cattle Dog who tends to eat everything but a bone.”
-Review by Shelby Loeppky, SJ Writer
West Paw
West Paw has not been rated.
Price Range: $8–$37
Each of West Paw’s durable dog toys is made with a specific type of play in mind–whether your dog likes to toss, tug, or think.
The certified B Corp’s entire collection is BPA and latex-free, and dishwasher safe so you can clean them with less yuck factor.
If your playful pooch has destroyed every plush, polyester fiber-filled stuffy, you’re not alone. Their Rowdies with HardyTex and reinforced mesh are more durable plushies, built to keep the IntelliLoft filling made of recycled plastic bottles inside for longer.
Their more durable ZogoFlex chew toys (like the Hurley) can be chewed up (by a machine this time) and re-made into new recycled dog toys with their Join The Loop program.
Take a look at our reviews and video below.
Our Personal Reviews Of The Rowdies And The Hurley
“Our demo of the Rowdies was, well, rowdy. Shared between two dogs, tossed, tugged and tussled with, the toy remained intact for quite some time. Long after the stuffing was lovingly extracted, the reinforced mesh held on.
With the Hurley, it was an all-out dog-free for all! Jumping, chasing, tugging, and tossed in the water, Hurley tagged along. Its durable Zogoflex material has stood the test of time with our chewiest chewer.”
-Review by Shelby Loeppky, SJ Writer
Beco Pets
Beco Pets has not been rated.
Price Range: $6–$23
Beco Pets’s makes more sustainable dog toys for rough chewers. Their non-toxic range will satisfy any pooch (and their caring human). They offer durable plastic-free toys made of sustainably tapped natural rubber.
If you don’t mind recycled plastic, their squeak toys feature about 15 plastic bottles. Most sustainable are their organic hemp dog toys, like the Hemp Ring, which is perfect for multi-dog tug-o-war games.
KONG
KONG has not been rated.
Price Range: $7–$29
KONG is the king of the most durable dog toys. They make nearly any toy you could imagine—ropes, bones, puppy toys, antlers, and treat-stuffable chew toys.
You can search for a toy to meet specific criteria, like the type of play, features, age of the dog, and material. We like the last function because KONG has both sustainable dog toys as well as those that aren’t as Earth-friendly.
If you need dog toys for tough chewers, bite into the Extreme KONG, made from only the toughest USA natural rubber. For those who want to give toys in the form of time-consuming treats, the Classic and Extreme can be stuffed with treats. They also sell wild Grade-A elk antlers that have been naturally shed, so no elk are harmed.
They also have polyester plush toys, tennis balls covered in a scratchy felt fabric, and PolyTuff toys that are made from undisclosed materials. We would steer clear of these as far as “good boy toys” go.
Pawsome Pet Toys
Pawsome Pet Toys has not been rated.
Price Range: $4–$35
Hemp fabric is the basis of all of Pawesome Pet Toys’ non-plastic, BPA-free dog toys. Hemp is antibacterial, mold-resistant, UV-resistant, durable, and, most importantly, grown without toxins and herbicides.
From heavy-duty tug toys to snuggly wool bones, Pawsome makes dog toys for labradors, chihuahuas and every breed in between. You’ll find hemp rope and hemp fabric in most products, with stuffed toys featuring additional natural, locally sourced wool stuffing.
Ware Of The Dog
Ware Of The Dog has not been rated.
Price Range: $15–$24
Ware of the Dog’s hand-crocheted dog toys are not made for serious chewers, but they take the award for most adorable.
Even if it doesn’t last long, you can feel good about cleaning up its remnants, since these natural dog toys are made with either 100% recycled cotton t-shirt yarn, 100% organic cotton, or lambs wool. That means they’re swallow-safe and fully compostable, down to the natural Swiss dyes with an OEKO-TEX certification.
How We Found The Best Natural Or Recycled Dog Toys
We haven’t gone barking mad or anything, but we have spent a considerable amount of time digging through the dirt here. By which we mean, the dirty world of plastic plushies and toxic tug toys.
Here’s what we sniff out when looking at eco-friendly pet products—which includes everything from sustainable dog collars to sustainable dog toys.
Materials:
Much like we did for eco-friendly dog beds, we looked for the same sustainable fabrics we like to wear (or sleep on / in). If we don’t want toxic plastic in our wardrobes, we certainly don’t want it in our best friend’s mouth.
First and foremost, that means (ideally organic) non-toxic dog toys featuring materials like wool, organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled plastic, and natural rubber.
Second to those are dog toys made from recycled materials like plastic, as long as they’re BPA-free.
It’s worth noting to seek durable materials (i.e. natural rubber, hemp, and recycled fire hoses) since the most durable sustainable dog toys are also just the most sustainable dog toys.
This is especially important if you have bigger, chew-heavy breeds and seek sustainable dog toys for pitbulls or golden retrievers and the like.
Supply chain & labor practices:
We might not always associate a dog toy with the social issues that enumerate product manufacturing these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there.
Finding ethical dog toys that are not just sustainable but ethical was important, too.
These green dog toy brands are getting the ball rolling for other companies to follow suit by keeping their manufacturing local (many in the USA) and supporting their workers with fair work conditions and fair pay.
- Certifications: B Corporation (B Corp)
Carbon commitments & green practices:
The best eco-friendly dog toy brands really run the extra mile for the planet, whether through offsetting carbon emissions or implementing a recycling program for old toys.
Community & charitable giving:
Our precious pup might not always give that rope back when playing fetch, but we’re happy to see that many brands are giving back to their local communities.
Finding shreds of hemp toys scattered around the house is a much better experience when you know that your new purchase will help support an animal, social, or environmental organization.
FAQ:
What is the purpose of the article?
To highlight brands offering eco-friendly dog toys made from recycled or natural materials, helping pet owners choose toys that reduce environmental impact and avoid harmful plastics.
What qualifies a dog toy as “eco-friendly”?
Eco-friendly dog toys are those made from ethically sourced materials (e.g., recycled plastics, natural fibres), designed with end-of-life disposal in mind (recycling or composting), non-toxic, and from brands transparent about sustainability claims.
Why should I choose eco-friendly dog toys instead of conventional ones?
Because many conventional dog toys contribute to plastic waste, contain toxic materials, and have minimal recycling options; eco-friendly alternatives help reduce an individual dog’s environmental footprint while offering safer play options.
What should I look for when selecting a sustainable dog toy?
Look for materials like recycled plastics, natural rubber, hemp, organic cotton; durability (so the toy lasts); clear recycling or composting instructions; brand sustainability certifications; and minimal waste packaging.
How do I dispose of or recycle eco-friendly dog toys?
Choose brands that offer take-back or recycling programs, specifically toys made from biodegradable or compostable materials, and avoid simply throwing toys into landfill once they’re worn out.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable Dog Toys
Whether your pet is a prize winning poodle, working sheepdog, or couch cuddler, the responsibility lies (on the couch) and with you to keep your dogs healthy and active.
What better way to do so than with organic toys for dogs that’s easy on their teeth and the planet. From fuzzy-wuzzies to toys for tough chewers, we’ll toss you a bone by releasing this detailed list of eco-friendly dog toys.
If you’ve woof-ed down this article, and are looking to spice up your playtime sustainably, share it with the other pooch parents in your life needing reliable (and tested!) sustainable dog toys.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in October 2020 and updated in November 2025 to include new images, refreshed copy, and an expanded FAQ section.
Tucked away in the mountains of BC, Canada, Shelby combines her sustainable lifestyle with a passion for writing. A nomad at heart, travelling to different countries, and provinces from the East to West Coast before settling down to raise a family, farm and write. With a love of poetry, psychology and putting nutrient dense food on a plate, her main goal is to foster connections, support local artisans, farmers, crafters, and creators to minimize her impact on the planet while maximizing her community.
Hello!
Love all the info you share!
I was wondering if you are thinking of maybe making a book someday?
I sometimes have a hard time figuring out how to find the best options for zero waste products etc. as they are so commodified and expensive sometimes and your page and the suggestions and that you explain why and how you shoes those places etc. have been helpful I was just wondering, perhaps selfishly, if you have thought of putting them in book format (ebook or otherwise to save resources)? Thank you so much for all you do!
Thank you Castaneya, very kind of you to say that! Maybe one day!