Living the Values We Preach – Why Sustainability is More Than a Brand Promise

When I started My Pet Life, I wanted it to be good for pets, people, and the planet — but for me, that promise has to actually mean something.

The truth is, I’ve always been an animal lover, and sustainability is something I’ve been passionate about for years - particularly since I watched David Attenborough’s series from several years ago - Planet Earth. It opened my eyes. It scared me. It changed the way I live my life and decisions I make every single day. For example, I don’t chase the latest upgrade just because it’s new. I only moved from an iPhone 7 to a 12 when my workplace stopped supporting the 7, and I’m still happily using that same phone today. Even then, it gives me heartburn when I think about the dirty nickel factories that may have contributed to the making of my phone.

Years ago, (and I do remember how old I was but I’m not in the mood to give it away), my uncle bought me a dress and taught me about quality over quantity - it was expensive, not absurdly, but he told me to look after it and it would last. I still have it today and it still fits - although I”m not sure Sydney Sweeney would endorse it (hint on age of it). I can even tell you exactly when I bought the shirt I’m wearing as I write this — October 2011, it’s Seduce, from a shop in Sanctuary Cove. If I really thought about it, I could probably tell you how much it cost but regardless, it’s clearly good quality given it’s cost per wear wouldn’t be much more than 1c by now...! Buying quality that lasts instead of disposable fashion is something we are all guilty of, and it is much harder in some instances e.g. when I’m buying for Master 5 because I know, he’ll be growing out of whatever I buy within 3 seconds so sourcing eco friendly options that cost more and take longer to get (most of the time) is a challenge, but I actively avoid it if I can. If I don’t have a choice, I try to teach him the value of looking after his things - that way at least whatever I’ve bought that he no longer fits, can go to someone else.

It’s the same with technology. I don’t chase the latest upgrade just because it’s new. I only moved from an iPhone 7 to a 12 when my workplace stopped supporting the 7, and I’m still happily using that same phone today. I’m not immune to the benefits of technology, I just don’t understand the reliance on it - for everything. Obviously, writing this isn’t on pen and paper, I get that it could come across as hypocritical, but my mentality around technology is that isn’t what we have, or had say, 5 years ago, enough?

These elements of my mindset flow naturally into My Pet Life. The packaging is 100% compostable, and our supplies are plastic-free wherever possible, as much as can be controlled. Special offers might utilise reusable jars or biodegradable ribbons/threads.

Reducing waste is about the everyday decisions that add up over time. It’s about resisting the urge to replace something “just because,” and it’s about valuing the things you already own. The less waste you produce, the lighter your footprint — and that’s a value I hold close in my life and my business.

Sustainability isn’t about perfection. It’s about doing what you can, no matter how small. You make one conscious choice, then another, and soon it becomes second nature. That’s how we create lasting change — for our pets, for ourselves, and for the planet we all share. I wish everyone realised that even one choice a day, a week even, makes a difference. The thinking that something small doesn’t therefore we don’t do it, adds up. We apply that logic when we want to, why is applying it to a much bigger, greater cause than our immediate bubble any different?

Good for pets, people, and the planet. At My Pet Life, it’s not just what we say, it’s who we are at our very core, and it’s a way we can give back. Hopefully, we can influence others to do the same.

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