Our Planet Pawprint
Planet Pawprint: My Eco Commitments
We know “eco-friendly” gets thrown around more than a tennis ball in a spaniel household — so we want to be upfront about what we're doing (and not doing) to reduce our environmental pawprint.
At Fetch & Fettle, we believe doing our bit for the planet doesn’t have to mean being perfect. It means doing better, making things that last, and rethinking the waste that already exists. Here’s how we do it:
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1. Upcycled Materials
Most of these products are made from post-consumer textiles — think secondhand shirts, pillowcases, trousers and curtains that were destined for landfill.
Every item rescued has a story, and we love giving it a new one.
We source fabric from:
- Charity shops
- Local clothing donations
- Fabric remnants from homes
- Pre-loved household textiles
- Jumble sales
What we avoid: virgin fabrics wherever possible (unless they’re deadstock, donated or a safety necessity).
Each item is sewn with organic cotton or recycled polyester thread (depending on strength required). Even the sewing machine is powered by renewable electricity!
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2. Waste Not, Want Not
We don’t just upcycle — we use every scrap where we can. From tiny bow ties made of pocket squares to patchwork bandanas crafted from leftover offcuts, nothing goes to waste if we can help it. (We even have a bag of thread cut offs we use for repairs to our own clothes).
Even the packaging is reused or recyclable.
What we do with scraps:
- Tiny accessories (bows, flowers, patches)
- Toy stuffing
- Toy bowls
- Patchwork designs
- Donate unusable bits to local textile recycling
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3. Deadstock Materials
We never buy new fabric but for items that require strength or weatherproofing (like reflective or webbing-based products), we sometimes but rarely use deadstock fabric — unused material that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill.
This includes:
- Reflective fabric
- Straps and fastenings
This is because it’s the best way to ensure function without creating new demand for raw resources.
The elastic we use is organic cotton or from secondhand items. Hook and loop fastenings, snaps and zips we try to source from old clothing or secondhand but occasionally need to buy new - these are always sourced from my local factory to cut carbon emissions. We try to use buttons where feasible and not too fiddly.
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4. Handmade in the UK
Every eco friendly dog item is handmade right here in Devon — by a real human (hi, it’s me!) using a very well-loved sewing machine and a strong cup of tea.
That means:
- No overseas factories
- No mass production
- Lower shipping emissions
- Local, small-scale production you can actually feel good about
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5. Low-Waste Packaging
We pack your orders in reused or recycled packaging — and we’ll never send you plastic you don’t need.
Here’s what to expect:
- Recycled paper tape and tissue
- Recycled boxes or mailers
- Upcycled thank-you notes and care instructions (sometimes printed on the back of old homework, don’t judge)
- Logo printed with sustainable wood stamp and eco ink
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6. Honest About Imperfection
Not every fabric is flawless. Some have tiny signs of their former life — a bit of fading here, a rogue buttonhole there — but we see that as part of their charm.
We promise:
- No compromise on function or safety
- Full transparency about where your item came from
- Real sustainability over greenwashing
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Got Questions?
We're always open to chatting more about materials, ethics and how we can do better. Have we missed anything?
Drop me a message in the chat or email thefetchdesk@outlook.com.
