The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food
Rapid climate change is one of humanity’s most pressing global challenges, and we must urgently address unsustainable practices in all sectors to mitigate its most devastating effects. The pet food sector is a large and growing global industry that feeds about one billion dogs and cats. Moreover, it...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569372/full |
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| author | Billy Nicholles Billy Nicholles Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight |
| author_facet | Billy Nicholles Billy Nicholles Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight |
| author_sort | Billy Nicholles |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapid climate change is one of humanity’s most pressing global challenges, and we must urgently address unsustainable practices in all sectors to mitigate its most devastating effects. The pet food sector is a large and growing global industry that feeds about one billion dogs and cats. Moreover, its production is closely linked to the livestock sector, to which at least 25% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to date are attributable, and probably substantially more. Globally, dogs and cats consume 9% of livestock animals. In the US, this rises to 20%. This review collates and analyses studies on the environmental impacts of pet food, and recommends mitigation strategies. All reviewed studies agree that pet food is associated with at least non-negligible environmental impacts that must be accounted for and addressed: in the US, 25–30% of the environmental impacts of animal production have been attributed to companion animal diets. Studies have estimated a wide range of environmental “paw prints” for dog and cat diets; in some cases, the environmental impacts of some canine diets compare to or exceed those of human diets. Within pet food, ingredient selection is the most important factor. The most effective measure we can currently take to mitigate these impacts is to transition to non animal-based (vegan) pet food, where this has been formulated to be nutritionally sound. Such a transition could achieve very significant GHG and land use savings. In wealthy nations with high rates of companion animal guardianship, the benefits of this transition are demonstrably equivalent to one quarter to one third of the environmental benefits achievable through human dietary change. A transition to nutritionally sound vegan pet food represents a significant extant climate change mitigation strategy which warrants immediate implementation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea2f859f77344303ba4cb6d51d2f039d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea2f859f77344303ba4cb6d51d2f039d2025-08-20T02:57:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-05-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15693721569372The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet foodBilly Nicholles0Billy Nicholles1Andrew Knight2Andrew Knight3Andrew Knight4Andrew Knight5Bryant Research, London, United KingdomSustainable Pet Food Foundation, London, United KingdomSustainable Pet Food Foundation, London, United KingdomSchool of Veterinary Medicine, College of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, AustraliaSchool of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaFaculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United KingdomRapid climate change is one of humanity’s most pressing global challenges, and we must urgently address unsustainable practices in all sectors to mitigate its most devastating effects. The pet food sector is a large and growing global industry that feeds about one billion dogs and cats. Moreover, its production is closely linked to the livestock sector, to which at least 25% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to date are attributable, and probably substantially more. Globally, dogs and cats consume 9% of livestock animals. In the US, this rises to 20%. This review collates and analyses studies on the environmental impacts of pet food, and recommends mitigation strategies. All reviewed studies agree that pet food is associated with at least non-negligible environmental impacts that must be accounted for and addressed: in the US, 25–30% of the environmental impacts of animal production have been attributed to companion animal diets. Studies have estimated a wide range of environmental “paw prints” for dog and cat diets; in some cases, the environmental impacts of some canine diets compare to or exceed those of human diets. Within pet food, ingredient selection is the most important factor. The most effective measure we can currently take to mitigate these impacts is to transition to non animal-based (vegan) pet food, where this has been formulated to be nutritionally sound. Such a transition could achieve very significant GHG and land use savings. In wealthy nations with high rates of companion animal guardianship, the benefits of this transition are demonstrably equivalent to one quarter to one third of the environmental benefits achievable through human dietary change. A transition to nutritionally sound vegan pet food represents a significant extant climate change mitigation strategy which warrants immediate implementation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569372/fullpet foodenvironmental impactssustainabilityanimal byproductsveganpet |
| spellingShingle | Billy Nicholles Billy Nicholles Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight Andrew Knight The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems pet food environmental impacts sustainability animal byproducts vegan pet |
| title | The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food |
| title_full | The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food |
| title_fullStr | The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food |
| title_full_unstemmed | The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food |
| title_short | The environmental sustainability of meat-based versus vegan pet food |
| title_sort | environmental sustainability of meat based versus vegan pet food |
| topic | pet food environmental impacts sustainability animal byproducts vegan pet |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1569372/full |
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