Why do we offer recycling services?
We have 1.9m cats in Switzerland that generate 90'000 tons of cat litter waste every year, which is 10% of our household waste! For comparison in Germany it amounts to 630'000 tons per year. Why so much waste you ask?
Well, unfortunately the most used cat litter product is made out of Bentonite, which is a mineral harvested in open-pit mining only in a few places on the earth and is creating a huge destruction and deforestation.
The cat litter is used once and then thrown away with the household waste. This product cannot be burned nor recycled today, hence the entire amount of waste ends up on our waste landfills and over time those will fill up.
Well, unfortunately the most used cat litter product is made out of Bentonite, which is a mineral harvested in open-pit mining only in a few places on the earth and is creating a huge destruction and deforestation.
The cat litter is used once and then thrown away with the household waste. This product cannot be burned nor recycled today, hence the entire amount of waste ends up on our waste landfills and over time those will fill up.
What is Bentonite?
Sodium Bentonite is a naturally occurring, absorbent material consisting mostly of the mineral montmorillonite. The clay is typically formed when water alters volcanic ash, and occurs as layers sandwiched between other types of rocks. When placed in water, bentonite’s unique properties enable it to absorb 7 to 10 times its own weight and expand up to 18 times its dry volume. The mineral’s swelling, absorbing and viscosity behaviors have earned it the nickname “Clay of 1,000 Uses.”
Are there no other options?
Yes, there are alternatives - plant based, be it out of wood or plant fibres, but it does not offer the same qualities as Bentonite does. It is not as absorbent, nor does it neutralise the smell as much, hence a lot of cat owners and even cats prefer the cat litter made of Bentonite.
Plant fibre cat litter
Wood pellet cat litter