Companion Animal Welfare

Pet Food Sustainability and Welfare

The animal welfare implications of pet food ingredients, including farmed animal sourcing, novel proteins, and sustainability considerations.

Key Facts

Companion animals consume a significant fraction of the world's meat production
Most commercial pet food contains ingredients from factory-farmed animals
Novel protein pet foods use insect meal, plant protein, and cultivated meat
Byproduct use in pet food can be welfare-positive if it reduces demand for primary production
Pet owners increasingly seek sustainable and welfare-conscious pet food options

Welfare Considerations

Pet food is an often-overlooked dimension of companion animal welfare advocacy. The animal welfare implications of pet food ingredients - which predominantly come from intensive animal agriculture - are significant. Novel protein sources including insects and plant proteins, combined with improved sourcing transparency and welfare certification for traditional ingredients, could substantially reduce the welfare footprint of companion animals.

What You Can Do

Research the welfare credentials of your pet food brand's ingredient sourcing
Consider pet foods using novel proteins or certified welfare-conscious ingredients
Advocate for pet food companies to publish welfare standards for their ingredient supply chains