Pet Food Sustainability and Animal Welfare

The welfare and environmental footprint of pet food production raises important questions about ingredient sourcing, wild-caught fish use, and alternatives.

Key Facts

Approximately 20% of global fish catch is used for animal feed including pet food
Insect-based pet food produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than meat-based alternatives
Novel protein sources including black soldier fly larvae are nutritionally adequate for cats and dogs
Sustainability certification for pet food fish ingredients is expanding but inconsistent
Plant-based diets for dogs are nutritionally viable; cats have specific carnivore requirements that complicate plant-only diets

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of wild fish and farmed animals used in pet food is often overlooked; choosing sustainably sourced, welfare-conscious pet food reduces indirect harm to billions of animals.

What You Can Do

Choose pet food with sustainability and welfare certification where possible
Consider insect-based protein pet food as a lower-impact alternative
Ask pet food manufacturers about their sourcing and welfare commitments