Eco-Friendly Dog Food - Sustainable Choices

If you have pets you might be concerned about sustainability. The new eco-friendly dog food options present petowners with viable alternatives for feeding your pets healthy and sustainable pet foods.

Eco-Friendly Dog Food: Sustainable Choices for Your Pet

The pet food supply chain is complicated and mysterious. The industry claims to rely on farm by-products for ingredients, creating less waste. But Modern Farmer says pet owners don’t buy into the sustainable declaration.

According to the publication, 90 million dogs live in the U.S. They compete with their human counterparts for the biggest source of protein – meat. So, what’s the workaround for the pet food industry?

FDA Regulations

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pet food in the U.S. and ensures all food products are safe and produced under sanitary conditions. Meat unfit for human consumption sometimes slips through the cracks, resulting in recalls.

At least several pet food products were recalled earlier this year, sparking concern among pet owners. It also forced many to rethink what they put into their doggy’s feeding bowl.

In this article, we’ll discuss the various options for eco-friendly dog food, if you’re considering an eco-friendly alternative to your pup’s usual dog food.

What Makes a Pet Food Brand Eco-Friendly?

Eco-friendly dog food is not only about the ingredients used in the product; transportation and packaging play just as important roles. For a product to meet eco-friendly standards, the manufacturer has to prove its entire lifecycle was created with minimal harm to the environment. The focus is on reducing the ecological footprint and incorporating sustainable practices.

Many brands are answering the call to be more sustainable by reducing their carbon footprint.

They include humanely raised protein sources in their dry dog food without compromising nutrition or flavor. Organic brown rice is also a sustainable choice for a pet’s diet which pet food makers now list on their ingredients labels.

Plant-Based Protein Alternatives

Pet Food Processing describes the rapid evolution of the pet food industry as part of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution.” It lists AI and molecular farming as impacting the future of pet food.

The publication says animal protein accounts for more than 93% of pet food products. It was only a matter of time before the industry developed alternatives. Insects and other plant-based protein sources are already finding favor with pet parents.

Another rich source of protein is microorganisms which contain up to 60% raw protein. Produced by biomass fermentation, they can be made anywhere, ensuring a consistent supply and minimum disruption to the supply chain.

The health benefits are just as rewarding. Open Farm says many plant-based ingredients are hypoallergenic and anti-inflammatory, improving your pup’s immune system.

Human-Grade Dog Food

dog with blue eyes ready to eat — Dogs rely on your for their food

Photo by Ayla Verschueren

According to Business Research Insights, the global human-grade pet food market is expected to reach $5.7 billion in 2032. More and more fur parents are purchasing human-grade dog food because all ingredients must be edible for humans and meet federal manufacturing regulations.

Not that you would eat your doggy’s food, but the ingredients listed on human-grade pet food can compete with fine dining restaurants. Vegetables like broccoli and carrots go head to head with their protein partners – beef, salmon, chicken, and turkey.

Natalia Ciecierska-Holmes, a PhD researcher, tells the BBC that canned horsemeat and kitchen scraps were a popular choice for feeding dogs in the 1920s. Now, the top-tier pet food industry is a multi-billion-dollar market.

Consumer Trends

It’s reflecting consumer trends as customers demand more options in supporting sustainability practices. However, human-grade pet food is more expensive. Because of the strict regulations governing human-grade standards, you’ll have to fork out more than what you pay for kibble.

labradoodle dog on a bed — Managing your dog’s diet, with eco-friendly dog food, helps you maintain a healthy pet

Photo by Brooke Cagle

Vets warn that some human-grade ingredients can harm dogs and cause an allergic reaction. If your pup has a sensitive stomach, consult your veterinarian before switching them to a human-grade feeding product.

Human-grade and plant-based pet foods are sometimes seen as superior. But don’t discredit feed-grade dog food like dry and wet food. They are still safe and suitable. Remember, there was a time when feed-grade pet food started as human-grade food. The product becomes unfit for humans once it passes the dog food manufacturing process.

Ethical Dilemma Regarding Eco-Friendly Dog Food

We want the best for our pup babies. Sometimes, it’s hard to know if we’re on the right path. Ethical Consumer suggests the following ingredients are big sustainable no-nos:

Palm oil
Plastic packaging
Industrial animal farming

Brands are finally making healthier pet food, and eco-friendly dog food that won’t burden the planet. From partnering with farmers who practice regenerative farming to improving biodiversity, they’re close to getting it right.

By collaborating with others who share the same goals, the dog food market could help lead the way in sustainability.