Sustainable pet food is a growing trend among dog and cat owners who want to reduce their environmental impact. These foods use fewer resources and less energy to produce than conventional dog and cat food.

This can help reduce carbon emissions and water consumption. These options are also better for your pet's health.

Ingredients

Sustainable pet food companies often use locally sourced ingredients. They also repurpose foods that would otherwise go to waste, such as fruits and vegetables that are too bruised or overripe to sell at the market.

Some companies, such as Kemin Nutrisurance, Des Moines, IA, and CSS, McClellan, CA, take this one step further by partnering with grocery stores to repurpose unwanted products. Their patented Harvest to Harvest technology helps reduce food waste by creating products that can be used as nutritious pet food while still fresh and safe.

Many pet food manufacturers make sustainability claims about their ingredients, but a recent survey from Yummypets shows that most pet owners are skeptical of these claims. Moreover, most pet owners would be willing to pay more for pet foods in environmentally friendly packaging.

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is a critical component of sustainable pet food. Customers expect companies to source their pet foods from animals that have been raised outdoors on pasture or in the range and are managed under high animal welfare standards.

Sadly, many pet food companies are failing to meet these standards. They’re supporting abusive practices that are illegal in some U.S. states, such as the use of gestation crates for pigs and cages for chickens used for meat.

Some companies are working to change that by using upcycled ingredients instead of throwing away excess meat or eggs. Shameless Pets, for example, creates dog and cat treats from discarded food that would otherwise go to waste.

Environmental Impact

As you can imagine, pet food is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Its production is often done in facilities that rely on fossil fuels for energy, and it leaves behind byproducts that can cause serious environmental damage.

The good news is that some companies are leading the way when it comes to sustainability. One of them is Shameless Pets, a company that makes treats using upcycled ingredients that would normally be thrown away.

Sustainable pet foods also contain ingredients that are harvested without harmful pesticides and chemicals. They are also made with locally sourced, fresh ingredients that help support local economies and reduce shipping costs.

The best sustainable pet foods also use renewable sources of energy to produce their products. They also reduce packaging and waste in other ways, such as recycling and developing products from recycled materials.

Nutrition

Sustainable pet food has to meet a variety of nutritional requirements, including protein, carbohydrates, fats and inclusions. The quality and palatability of the ingredients are also important.

Sustainability isn't just about the food, but also the company that makes it and the way it treats its employees and animals. If a company doesn't have a good reputation for sustainability, it may not be worth buying from.

A lot of companies are focusing on more sustainable practices, such as using insects or vegan products instead of meat or dairy. These options are more eco-friendly, as they require fewer resources to produce and require less energy to transport.