If you're in the market for a new food or water dish for your cat, you might want to check out Free the Ocean's Bamboo Cat Bowls. These are made of bamboo fibers and rice husks (稻壳) and are more eco-friendly than traditional plastic.

The presence of bamboo—used as a renewable filler—is part of what makes the bowl greener. Bamboo, which is technically a grass, grows 30% faster than trees and as much as 1.5 inches per hour! Not surprisingly, it produces 30% more oxygen and absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than trees, according to Mimi Ausland, founder of Free the Ocean. "It's a cut-and-come-again plant, which means it can be cropped without disrupting the root ball, reducing carbon giving off when it's harvested."

Rice husk is a byproduct(副产品) of rice production that is a challenge to farmers because it is hard to break down and of no great value. Its use as a filler provides a purpose for an otherwise useless material and, along with the bamboo.

Ausland said, "Plastic cat dishes have bacteria(细菌), which can put your cat's health at risk. Even if pet owners clean them regularly, they cannot be fully sanitized. Plastic bowls are the main cause of cat diseases.

However, the bamboo cat bowl will not leach (渗人) harmful chemicals into your pet's water the way that traditional plastic can and it is naturally free of bacteria.

Cats will like the bowls, as they have low edges. With an easy-to-pick-up handle, they come in four colors.

One customer commented, "My cats prefer these cat food bowls just like me. The cats like the low lip that makes it easy to eat out of. And the fact that they're made of bamboo and that buying them makes a difference to the environment is amazing! And it is easy to wash in the dishwasher."