TWO innovative Edinburgh businesses have partnered in a bid to tackle the issue of environmentally harmful dog waste bags.
Project Harmless, which was described by Richard Branson as a business which ‘really stood out’ to him upon it gaining support from Virgin Startup, will collaborate with luxury pet accessories brand, Stocky & Dee.
Launched in 2021, Project Harmless is behind a dog waste bag made from medical grade and water-reactive material. The company said the bags disintegrate quickly in landfills and oceans when compared to conventional dog waste bags made of recycled, degradable, biodegradable, or compostable material.
The partnership with Stocky & Dee, which creates its luxury pet accessories in Leith, will see the launch of a line of dog accessories targeted at ‘eco-conscious’ dog owners, with a bespoke houndstooth Harmless Poop Bag pouch having already been unveiled.
George Greer, co-founder of Project Harmless, said, “Over 100 million marine animals are killed by plastics each year, our bags pose no harm to wildlife because the same material is approved for human consumption if manufactured differently. Using our bag is probably the simplest thing responsible dog owners can do to help fight plastic pollution.
“While customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, some asked if we could create a pouch for the ease of dog walking. The collaboration with Stocky & Dee enabled us to work with a local business to create a new line of high-quality dog accessories targeted at eco-conscious dog owners.”
Mairi Robb, founder of Stocky & Dee, added, “The dog accessory market in the UK is overflowing with poorly designed and mass produced products falling squarely into fast fashion, many made with harmful plastics. All of our products are handmade to order in our Leith studio. This also allows us to focus on craftsmanship and to utilise any excess materials to minimise wastage.
“As a dog owner and a new parent, I am increasingly conscious of my choices, particularly when I reflect upon what the planet might be like when my son grows up. I am delighted that we can join forces with such an innovative Scottish startup to fight plastic pollution together.”
The two businesses are now working on designing further exclusive styles for the winter season.
