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Dog Food's Huge Climate Pawprint Revealed
8 Jan
Summary
- Dog food contributes 1% to UK greenhouse gas emissions.
- Wet, raw, and meat-rich foods have higher climate impact.
- Choosing grain-free options increases environmental harm.
Dog food production is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 1% of the UK's total. Research from the universities of Edinburgh and Exeter reveals substantial environmental differences between various dog food types. Wet, raw, and meat-rich diets generally have a greater climate impact than standard dry kibble.
The study calculated the carbon footprint of nearly 1,000 commercial dog foods. Producing ingredients for UK dog food contributes 2.3-3.7% of the UK food system's emissions. If other countries adopted similar feeding habits, the global emissions could exceed those from all commercial jet fuel annually.
Owners seeking to reduce their pet's environmental impact are advised to opt for dry kibble, check meat cut labels for lower prime meat content, or consider the emerging plant-based options. The pet food industry is urged to use less human-consumable meat cuts and improve label clarity.
