Pet Food Sustainability and Animal Welfare: Reducing the Footprint of Feeding Companion Animals

The global pet food industry has a substantial environmental and animal welfare footprint, and choosing more sustainable pet food options can reduce harm to farmed animals while maintaining companion animal health.

Key Facts

Companion animals in the US consume approximately 20% of global meat and fish production
The carbon footprint of a large dog has been estimated to exceed that of an average SUV in some analyses
Insect-based pet foods produce up to 99% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than beef-based equivalents per kilogram of protein
Regulatory approval for insect-based pet foods has expanded in the EU, UK, and Australia
Plant-based diets have been shown nutritionally adequate for dogs in peer-reviewed studies when properly formulated
Cats are obligate carnivores with specific amino acid requirements making plant-based diets more complex to formulate

Welfare Considerations

Pet food represents a significant and underappreciated leverage point for reducing farmed animal suffering. The hundreds of billions of chickens, pigs, and fish whose lives are used in pet food annually are largely invisible to pet owners focused on companion animal welfare. Sustainable pet food choices can substantially reduce this impact: insect-based proteins, plant-based formulations for dogs, marine by-products that would otherwise be wasted, and cultured meat ingredients represent a growing portfolio of options. Welfare-conscious pet owners increasingly consider the welfare of the animals that produced their companion animal food as part of their ethical decision-making.

What You Can Do

Research insect-based and plant-based pet food options appropriate for your companion animal species
Transition dogs gradually to lower-impact protein sources under veterinary guidance if appropriate
Ask pet food brands about their sustainability and animal welfare sourcing commitments
Support research into nutritionally complete alternative-protein pet foods that reduce farmed animal welfare impacts