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10 Ways Ruff Wear Reduces Their Carbon Paw Print
- Ruff Wear participates in PacifiCorp’s Blue Sky renewable power program.
- Ruff Wear is a partner in the local Commute Options program, rewarding employees who bike, carpool, telecommute, walk, or participate in other commute alternatives. Employees at Ruff Wear are eligible for a $20 gift certificate after 45 green commutes, and Ruff Wear matches that with an additional $20 paid out to employees on their paychecks after 45 commutes.
- Ruff Wear’s 6,300 square foot headquarters building runs on approximately $150/month for electricity due to its energy-efficient design. The high windows, airflow, insulation and heat system help regulate temperatures so the building runs on very little electricity. In addition, all of our bathroom lights are on timers so the light never gets left on!
- Ruff Wear also uses energy-efficient light bulbs. Not only do we purchase low-energy bulbs, but we recycle burned out ones, though few lights are needed to keep our building lit. The presence of multiple windows make for lots of free daylight in the building.
- Ruff Wear employees try to be as “paper free” as possible, utilizing electronic communications over print outs whenever possible. The paper that is used is turned over and re-used in our fax machine, therefore cutting down on the amount of paper used. Ruff Wear purchases recycled paper and office supplies whenever available.
- Ruff Wear is an active member and contributor to the Conservation Alliance, a group dedicated to preserving natural lands for future generations.
- All employees recycle their paper, cans, and other recyclables at work.
- All soaps and cleansers used at Ruff Wear are eco-friendly or natural products.
- Ruff Wear uses cloth towels instead of disposable paper towels are used in the kitchens and bathrooms.
- When a company event is off-site, Ruff Wear employees carpool together for maximum capacity and minimal environmental impact.
October 1, 2009, marks the release of Ruff Wear’s new Climate Changer™ Fleece Jacket.
While the intent of this product is to keep your four-legged friend insulated from the cold when you’re trail running, hiking, or kicking around town, there’s something particularly special about this jacket.
Dogs and people, preferably together, live for those places where we can escape the daily grind and revel in an untrampled wilderness, free from cars, computers, and the confines of a fenced yard.
Ruff Wear is proud to be an active member of the Conservation Alliance, helping to ensure that future generations of dogs and people have open spots to enjoy.
Here are a few ideas for you and your pet to be greener…we’d also like to know how you reduce your carbon paw prints.
Adopt a “recycled” pet.
Why buy a pet from a pet store or breeder when you can adopt one of the 70,000 puppies and kittens born every day in the US? Shelters are currently over-extended, and adopting from a local shelter can reduce the burden on these facilities and perhaps save the life of a dog in need.
Now that our dogs can pack away the essentials in dog packs made just for them, why not fill them up with the same things we would pack in our packs—water, gear, and protein bars! Here’s a great recipe for homemade energy treats for your dog to enjoy. They are highly nutritious and delicious, as long as you don’t mind the fishy dog breath afterwards.
Ingredients:
8 oz (226g) cooked fish or canned wild salmon with no juice or salt
½ c (30g) finely chopped fresh parsley
3 whole eggs, beaten well
½ c (72g) finally ground sesame seeds
2 ½ c (395g) brown or regular rice flour
1 finely ground dried eggshell (to dry the eggshell, save the empty shell of one of the eggs, rinse thoroughly and air dry. Place on a baking sheet at bake for 10 minutes at 300°F (150°C). Grind dry shell into a fine powder).
Many pet owners have made the move towards natural and organic products for their pets following the pet food and children’s toy scares of the past few years. Ruff Wear is committed to producing products that are safe for our pets.
We use as many natural, recycled, or organic materials as possible while preserving the integrity and durability of our products. For example, when designing our all-natural TurnUp™, we set out to create a durable rubber toy that was from a sustainable source and contained no unnecessary ingredients, dyes, or additives. The result was a toy with a very limited ingredient list – as close to rubber straight out of the tree as we could get:
- All natural latex rubber*
- Sulfur (to vulcanize the rubber)
- Mint Scent (because natural rubber is smelly)
We take pride in offering a toy with a recipe close to nature without compromising durability and fun. So go ahead and let your dog chase, chew, lick and enjoy this naturally durable and bouncy toy!
*Includes compounds and processes used to soften, vulcanize, cure, and release rubber from mold, as well as compounds used to help with UV stability, oxidation, cracking and hardness, all standard in natural rubber production.
