In the pet food world, this has been a long-time practice through the process known as rendering. One approach to sustainability is eliminating food waste. It’s a necessity,” said Anne Carlson, Jiminy’s.Ī report commissioned by the American Feed Industry Association’s Institute for Feed Education and Research, the Pet Food Institute and the North American Renderers Association estimated that US pet food manufacturers purchase 6.9 billion lbs of animal protein per year, many of which are derived from rendered products. “The UN projects the planet will go from 7 billion people to 9.7 billion by 2050. “The push to use up more land and water to feed people and animals eats up the planet,” said Anne Carlson, founder and chief executive officer, Jiminy’s, Berkeley, Calif. Thus, it’s not surprising that preliminary research suggests that proteins have, by far, the highest environmental impact compared to other ingredients. These proteins provide concentrated energy and nutrition for pets, but the supply chain that creates them has a greater magnitude of impact (by mass) to ecological and social systems. “Most commercial dog foods, for example, have a protein content averaging around 25% (by dry weight mass).” “Proteins are perhaps the most important ingredient to address with respect to sustainability due to the importance of proteins as a pet food ingredient, and the resulting magnitude of impacts in producing most proteins used in pet foods,” Gale added. ‘Sustainable’ in the context of ingredients is not about being ‘less sustainable’ but more about ensuring that there are no external costs that negatively impact ecological or human wellbeing. “This includes environmental impacts, as well as additional considerations of animal and human welfare. “Ingredient sustainability is ultimately a matter of whether the production and use of the ingredient creates net positive impacts for its users and every community it touches, from source, throughout the supply chain and to consumption, even post-consumption health,” said Andy Gale, marketing manager, Pet Sustainability Coalition, Boulder, Colo. This is especially true in e-commerce, where pet care, followed by pet food, are the second- and third-largest consumer packaged goods categories for online sales, according to market research firm Statista, New York. “Access to such information is just a click away.”Ī company’s sustainability story can make or break a sale. “Sustainable ingredient sourcing is fueling product development,” said Deena Krestel-Rickert, chief executive officer, Four Paws Solutions, St.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |