As pet parents and professionals, we know pets are part of the family. Unfortunately, while sharing our homes, they also share the burden we place on our planet. By eating diets consisting of animal protein, our companion animals contribute to environmental degradation and compete for food resources desperately needed by the expanding human population. So, how do we give our pets the best while still being mindful of the sustainability of our planet?
Environmental sustainability is just one component of general sustainability of a product or practice. The American Public Health Association defines an environmentally sustainable food system as “one that provides healthy food to meet current food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment.”
The specific factors measured when determining environmental sustainability include land and water use, waste production and management, and greenhouse gas emissions (including transportation). When thinking about animal-derived pet food protein, manufacturers and consumers concerned with sustainability should investigate a number of questions, including, but not limited to:
- How much land/water was used to grow crops to feed the production animals used in this food?
- How much land/water was used to raise these production animals directly?
- What percentage of the production animal was utilized in this food system?
- What type and volume of greenhouse gasses do these production animals release?
- What is the energy cost of housing, processing and shipping these production animals?
Agriculture associated with animal consumption has a notoriously negative environmental impact when compared with other forms of agriculture. Livestock are estimated to be responsible for 14.5-18% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Some production animals are more environmentally expensive than others. Cattle comprise approximately 48.5% of livestock emissions, while poultry are more sustainable at 0.6%. Farmed fish, an increasingly popular source of protein in pet foods, have low greenhouse gas contributions but a significant negative environmental impact in the areas of water use, eutrophication and water acidification.
It is important to realize, in the context of pet food, that much of this production is for human consumption. However, with more consumers feeding pets human-grade animal protein, companion animals are an important part of the food system sustainability discussion.
The Pet’s Role
We live on a planet with limited resources, and the ever-increasing human population already exceeds our ability to produce sufficient food. The United Nations State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021 estimated between 720 and 811 million people globally suffered from hunger in 2020. The UN currently estimates the global human population is growing by around 80 million people each year and, if current agricultural and food systems remain in place, predicts food insecurity will increase to over 840 million people living with hunger by 2030.
And while the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were likely responsible for some degree of food unavailability, many of the issues leading to lack of food access are cited as escalating problems rooted in decades of unsustainable practices.
As the human population grows, so does that of our companion animals. According to World Population Review, there are approximately 70 million dogs and 74 million cats being kept as pets in the United States in 2022. As of 2017, dogs and cats in the U.S. were estimated to be responsible for 25-30% of the environmental impact related to animal protein consumption. This impact is related both to the high number of pets and the shift in consumer preferences regarding pet food proteins.
As more pet parents select foods with a high percentage of premium animal proteins previously reserved for humans, the carbon footprint of pet care increases. Protein sourcing has the highest environmental cost of any macronutrient, therefore it is critical to explore sustainable protein options for both humans and their animal family members.
More Sustainable Protein Options
Fortunately, environmentally conscious consumers have options when looking for sustainability in pet food. One sustainable protein source has been used by pet food manufacturers for decades: meat byproducts. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-profit regulatory organization for animal feed and pet food, defines byproducts as “secondary products produced in addition to the principal product.”
Where animal protein is concerned, the principal product is the cut intended for human consumption and the byproduct is not intended for human consumption. Meat byproducts that are often used as a source of protein in pet food can include organs, blood, bone or any non-meat tissue suitable for use in animal feed.
While they may seem unappetizing, meat byproducts can offer a lot of digestible nutrition while reducing waste in a food system. Studies and organizations concerned with food sustainability have confirmed utilizing meat byproducts is an effective way to decrease competition with the human food supply and minimize environmental impact. AAFCO’s official stance on byproducts is, as long as labeling, nutrient content and safety regulations are met, they are a viable source of protein in pet food.
There are some protein pioneers in the field of pet food exploring non-traditional, environmentally friendly options. One potential protein is in a class of its own; “Insecta,” to be precise. Insects are part of the normal diet of many wild canids and felids, and some easily farmed species show promise as a component in pet food diets.
Insect farming has a much smaller ecological footprint than traditional livestock farming, boasting few greenhouse gas emissions and low water and land use. Insects also do not require large amounts of resources to be spent raising them, converting feed to consumable protein much more efficiently than animals higher up the food chain. In fact, insects can utilize biomass considered “waste” at an incredible rate, meaning they can help clean up after other industries.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae has preliminary approval from AAFCO as an ingredient for use in dog food. These larvae provide an average of 40-44% crude protein and are already extensively used for livestock feed worldwide.
Crickets are also of growing interest to pet food manufacturers looking to reduce their environmental impact. With an amino acid profile comparable to those of egg, chicken, pork and beef, crickets have a high nutritional value. Pet food producers are also exploring insects as an alternative, novel protein for dogs with food sensitivities.
Another potential protein source is located off the production line. Some pet foods are using invasive species as a primary protein. Silver Copi, formerly known as Asian Carp, have been wreaking havoc on the waterways of the United States. Their population has exploded since being introduced in the 1970s, and efforts to control it have been largely ineffective. They are rapidly growing, large fish with a high reproductive rate, traits that make them ideal for their role as intentionally farmed species in western Asia. Despite being edible, they are not generally consumed by humans in the United States.
This abundant protein source is now the target of pet food manufacturers looking to help relieve the environment of a pest while providing a quality fish protein. Using invasive fish nearly eliminates the footprint of aquaculture and potentially reduces overfishing of native species.
Identifying Sustainable Pet Food
There are a number of certifications that help a consumer identify a sustainable product. Two nonprofit organizations offering comprehensive sustainability accreditation are Pet Sustainability Coalition1 and B Lab.2 Both offer a list of companies that have met their sustainability standards.
Additionally, there are certifications whose process includes monitoring of environmental impact. These include:
- USDA Organic
- Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
- Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)
- Food Alliance
- USDA Process Verified Program
- Regenerative Organic Alliance
- Rainforest Alliance
- Savory Institute Ecological Outcome Verification
By working to make excellent pet nutrition more sustainable, we can help ensure animals and humans have a bright future to share together. +
- Pet Sustainability Coalition. https://petsustainability.org/psc-accreditation/
- B Lab. https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp
- Bosch G., Swanson KS. (2020, Nov). Effect of using insects as feed on animals: pet dogs and cats. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. 1-12. doi:10.3920/jiff2020.0084
- Ingredient Definitions Committee Report Midyear Meeting via Webinar. Accessed September 18, 2022. https://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Meetings/Annual/2021/Committee-Reports/Ingredient_Definitions_Minutes_2021_Midyear.pdf
- Kępińska-Pacelik J, Biel W. Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? Animals. 2022;12(12):1515. doi:10.3390/ani12121515
- Okin GS. Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats. Crowther MS, ed. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(8):e0181301. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0181301
- Pet Sustainability Coalition. (n.d.). An Introduction to the 4-Factor Framework for Sustainable Protein Evaluation in Petfood. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from www.petsustainability.org.
- Swanson KS, Carter RA, Yount TP, Aretz J, Buff PR. Nutritional Sustainability of Pet Foods. Advances in Nutrition. 2013;4(2):141-150. doi:10.3945/an.112.003335
- United Nations. (n.d.). Food. United Nations. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/food