It's all about nature

The question of why George Bramble and Toby Massey set up Beco Pets, a company manufacturing dog and cat accessories, is easy to answer. The decision was certainly based on the fact that George Bramble had studied environmental science and Toby Massey studied product design with an interest in designing eco products. "However, we had also noticed that pet owners were developing a more pronounced environmental awareness. And at the time we established the company, ecological accessory products were considerably under-represented in the pet supplies market." It is precisely this trend that the pair has wanted to exploit logically since setting up the company in 2009. It was launched at a time when the economic situation was any­thing but steady. "We built the company up right in the middle of the recession in Europe. That was naturally risky," Bramble recounts. But their courage was rewarded. Now the company exports its products to 43 countries. Beco Pets has about 20 distributors and in the remaining countries it sells direct.
In manufacturing accessories for dogs and cats, the company opts wholly for natural raw materials or degradable materials. "Among other things we use rubber, bamboo, empty rice husks and even recycled chopsticks and plastic bottles." From these items a range of products is created including feeding bowls, extra-tough dog toys, hemp toys, bones, balls or even beds for dogs. A brand new addition to the range is the Beco Family of plush toys, each representing a member of Beco Pets in the shape of an animal. George Bramble is George the Giraffe and Toby Massey the Teddy.

The products are manufactured in China, a decision taken for various reasons, according to George Bramble. "For one thing, it was important to locate production where we also obtain all our raw materials. And production is also cheaper there, of course." Notwithstanding the cost saving, the production process is completely eco-friendly, even in China. "We have our own team there to monitor the production process carefully." The focus must ultimately always be on the corporate philosophy, which is "to make eco-friendly products that cost the same as non-eco-friendly ones and do little harm to nature," says George Bramble in summary. The latest campaign…