You know full well that I am a dog lover, and I know that many of you are dog lovers, or just pet lovers in general. They are our family, and much like humans, our domesticated pets have a pretty big impact on our planet and the environment around us.

Think about walking into a store like PetSmart, or even your local pet store, there are aisles and shelves lined with single use toys, plastic bones, and items destined for one use just destined for the landfill. But that’s not all, we’ve done several dog related episodes including one on the impact of our pet’s waste and another on pet food and the reliance on high impact meats. I’ll link both episodes in the description below.

So, today, we are looking at the industry as a whole. Why it is the way it is, and what some within the industry are working to change.

Joining me to share his experience and expertise is Spencer Williams, the CEO and owner of WestPaw.

A fifth-generation Montanan, Spencer grew up on a ranch near Columbus. His love for his home state and its pristine beauty, led Williams back to Montana after receiving a bachelor’s degree in German from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Since 1996, Williams has grown the Bozeman, Montana-based West Paw into a world-class manufacturer of eco-friendly pet toys and treats. West Paw’s products are sold in over 7,500 U.S. retailers and in over 45 countries.

From its start, the company has focused on environmentally friendly business methods and product materials, including recycled, recyclable, regenerative and organic materials. Spencer is a founding board member and past board chair of the Pet Sustainability Coalition. West Paw became the first pet product manufacturer to become a certified B Corp and in 2015 became Montana’s first Benefit Corporation.

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