Founder story
How EcoPetBox Started — And Why We Refused to Make Another Plastic Litter Box
EcoPetBox began with a scrub brush, a bin bag and one specific moment: standing over a plastic litter tub that had already been bleached three times that month and still smelled. There had to be a better way to give a cat a clean place to go — one that didn't rely on scratched plastic, harsh chemicals and a landfill afterwards. This is the short version of how a founder frustration became a biodegradable, award-winning disposable litter box sold across Europe.
"We didn't want to make a slightly nicer plastic box. We wanted to remove the plastic box entirely."
The moment the idea started
Anyone who has cleaned a plastic litter tray more than a few times knows the truth: no matter how often you wash it, the plastic holds odour, the cracks hold bacteria, and the whole thing is genuinely unpleasant. Our founder had tried every trick — different litters, different liners, an automatic box, a subscription — and every option still ended in the same weekly scrub.
The insight was simple: the plastic tub is the problem. Not the litter, not the cat, not the frequency of cleaning. Replace the tub and everything downstream — the scrubbing, the bleach, the odour trapped in scratched plastic — disappears.
Why we chose recycled paper and biodegradable pulp
We tested every material a disposable tray could realistically be made from: recycled plastic (still plastic), coated cardboard (fails on leaks and often contains PFAS), sugarcane pulp, bamboo, recycled paper composites. The winners weren't the cheapest — they were the ones that stayed leak-free for the full life of the tray, then genuinely broke down in 3–6 months in general waste or home compost.
That's the tray you hold today: PFAS-free, no plastic coating, tested at Intertek, and confirmed biodegradable at end of life. And because we control the material, we know exactly what's in it — nothing your cat, your kids or the environment shouldn't be near.
From one tray to a full ecosystem
Once the tray worked, cat owners asked the obvious next question: what about the litter? The bowls? The scoop? So we built the rest of the range from the same principles — biodegradable materials, no PFAS, no hidden plastics. Today EcoPetBox is a full ecosystem: disposable trays, prefilled travel trays, natural wood and hay litters, biodegradable bowls, scoops and the all-in-one EasyPetBox kit.
The brand is the flagship of Bellus Pet Company — headquartered in Estonia, with a North America office in North Carolina and a European warehouse in Leipzig. Manufacturing is spread across Estonia, Poland, Thailand, China and Mexico so we can supply retailers and distributors globally without air freight.
What we're proud of — and honest about
The recognition helps: Green Product Award, Leaders in Luxury Awards 2026, multiple CorporateLiveWire and Innovation & Excellence wins. What matters more is the everyday review from a cat owner who says the weekly scrub is finally gone, or a vet clinic that uses the trays between patients because they can be disposed of after a single use.
We're honest about the trade-off: a disposable tray is slightly more per month than a plastic box you bleach forever. In exchange, you get back time, hygiene and a home that doesn't smell like a litter cupboard. Most owners find that trade a bargain.
The principles EcoPetBox is built on
- The tray IS the box — no plastic tub to own, scratch or bleach
- Materials must be PFAS-free and independently tested
- End-of-life biodegradation in 3–6 months, not centuries
- Works with every cat litter — no lock-in
- Made where it's sold — Estonia, Poland, Thailand, China, Mexico
- One product family, not a bolt-on to a plastic range
Frequently asked questions
Who makes EcoPetBox?
EcoPetBox is the flagship brand of Bellus Pet Company, headquartered in Estonia with a North America office in North Carolina and a European warehouse in Leipzig, Germany. Manufacturing is distributed across Estonia, Poland, Thailand, China and Mexico.
Read the full articleWhere can I buy EcoPetBox?
Directly at ecopetbox.eu, on Amazon in supported markets, and through selected retailers and distributors across Europe. Retail and distribution enquiries are welcome via the contact page.
Read the full articleIs EcoPetBox certified?
Yes. The trays and litters are PFAS-free (Intertek tested), and the brand has been recognised by the Green Product Award, Leaders in Luxury Awards 2026, CorporateLiveWire, RI Global Awards and the Innovation & Excellence Awards.
Read the full articleSee what a plastic-free litter box actually looks like
Explore the full EcoPetBox range at our official store — trays, litters, bowls and the all-in-one kit.