Written by: Jeanette Lee

From corn to tofu to cassava, green litter options are growing, taking up 15-20% of the market now. But what’s truly sustainable takes more than a label.

As cat owners grow more conscious of their environmental footprint, many are ditching bentonite clay litter in favor of “green” alternatives — litters made from renewable, biodegradable materials that seem gentler on the planet. And it’s true: compared to strip-mined clay, these plant-based options offer hope. But they also come with trade-offs that aren’t always obvious.

A Quick Look at the Alternatives

• Corn & Wheat-Based Litters
  Widely available, good clumping, compostable under the right conditions. But they’re made from staple crops — often the same ones that feed humans and livestock. That means they compete with food systems, require chemical inputs, and attract pests if improperly stored.
• Tofu (Soy-Based) Litters
  Popular in parts of Asia. Soft, biodegradable, and flushable in small amounts. But tofu litter is typically made from edible-grade soy, a crop already under pressure for animal feed and oil production — not to mention its heavy pesticide use.
• Recycled Paper Litters
  A great way to reuse waste paper, with low dust and high absorbency. The downside? Poor clumping and weak odor control in multi-cat homes.
• Wood-Based Litters
  Made from sawdust or shavings. Naturally scented and compostable. But large-scale sourcing can raise questions about deforestation, and performance varies widely.

The Trade-Offs No One Talks About

Every plant-based litter shifts the environmental impact upstream — from mines to farms. That means:

• More land use (which may displace forests or habitats)
• More water and fertilizers in the case of conventional crops
• Greater competition with food production if edible-grade materials are used

These are still better options than clay — but they’re not perfect. Real sustainability means looking past the marketing and into the entire life cycle.

We believe that sustainable products aren’t just about materials — they’re about conscious decisions made at every step of the value chain. That requires leadership, not just in product design, but in sourcing, transparency, and a willingness to keep improving.

Why We Chose Cassava

When we set out to create a cat litter that actually aligned with our values, we didn’t want to settle for the least-bad option. We chose cassava because:

• ✅ It clumps better than most plant-based litters — making it easier for people to stick with sustainability
• ✅ It’s naturally low-dust and low-odor
• ✅ It can be sourced from non-edible varieties and processing byproducts, reducing food competition
• ✅ Cassava is a drought-tolerant crop — grown in tropical climates with less reliance on irrigation

But just using cassava isn’t enough.

The Challenges Ahead

Building a truly sustainable product isn’t a one-step fix — it’s a process that takes time, iteration, and trade-offs. Shifting supply chains, validating new materials, and ensuring consistent performance without cutting corners takes more than good intentions. We’re committed to this path, but we know real impact requires patience, partnerships, and ongoing transparency.

We’re working to push our product even further:

• Minimizing packaging impact: Exploring fully compostable or reusable delivery boxes
• Measuring lifecycle emissions: To understand how transport, processing, and packaging contribute to our footprint
• Sourcing: Exploring local suppliers to reduce transport emissions. Sourcing from non-edible or waste by-products
• Educating cat owners: Because reducing impact isn’t just about buying differently — it’s about using and disposing responsibly too

There is no silver bullet when it comes to sustainability. But if we ask better questions and make more intentional choices, we can design products and systems that make sense for both humans, our pet companions, and the planet.