Mars Pet Care is leading the way when it comes to sustainability issues, according to a report.
In 2010, the company pledged to only buy fish from fisheries or fish farms that are certified as sustainable by third parties, and said it would replace all wild catch whole fish and fish fillet with byproducts or farmed fish. This is in effort to keep pet food sources from competing directly with sources for human food.
The challenge here is that pet owners increasingly are seeking to feed their pets the same way they feed themselves, with premium ingredients and food that resemble what humans eat.
“We are going to have to educate our consumers,” said Isabelle Alvoet, global sustainability director for Mars Pet Care. “It’s not easy.”
In the US, Mars has replaced all of its wild-caught fish supply with sources approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
Other big pet food companies, like Nestle Purina and J.M. Smucker, also are taking steps toward sustainability.
Nestle Purina has published a 20-page report that said the company is reducing its energy and water use at selected plants. It says it also has “a traceability program … (that) focuses on issues such as deforestation, overfishing, human rights, child labor, water scarcity and animal welfare.”
J.M. Smucker says it regularly reviews its sustainability initiatives, but has not formalized its focus for its Big Heart Pet Brands.
Showing posts with label sustainable practices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable practices. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Kemin’s spearmint line certified Sustainably Grown
The production of Hi-RA Mint, a proprietary line of spearmint developed by Kemin plant scientists using traditional plant breeding methods, has been certified Sustainably Grown.
The recognition of Kemin and its growing partner came after a rigorous third-party audit and assessment by SCS Global Services (SCS). Sustainably Grown is one of the most stringent certification standards, supporting long-term sustainable agricultural production by identifying crops grown in accordance with exceptional environmental and social responsibility as well as quality and safety requirements.
"Kemin Industries continues to demonstrate leadership in the food and personal care product sectors with plant ingredients that meet the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility," said Nathan Smith, SCS’ Managing Director of Food and Agriculture. "We are pleased to be able to report that 100% of spearmint produced by Kemin meets the requirements of the Certified Sustainably Grown standard."
Hi-RA Mint, which takes its name from “high Rosmarinic Acid," is a proprietary line of spearmint developed by Kemin scientists. Spearmint plants are excellent producers of diverse phytochemicals for flavoring preservation and health benefits. That’s why Kemin has developed two clonal lines that are traditionally bred to naturally select for phytochemicals that are suitable for commercial production for food, personal care, health, and pet food applications.
“The timing of our Sustainably Grown certification couldn’t be better,” said Dr. John Greaves, Kemin vice president of specialty crops. “Market demand for plant-based antioxidants, preservatives, and flavorings is soaring and it’s even more important than ever to use long-term, sustainable techniques that are good for the land, show social responsibility and produce crops grown in accordance with quality and safety requirements. At Kemin we take a long view and have a growing number of customers who feel the same way.”
To produce Hi-RA Mint, Kemin co-farms with a five-generation, family-owned operation that has an unwavering commitment to excellence. The partner, strategically located in an area of Indiana with favorable mint-growing conditions, shares the company’s commitment to sustainability, safety and quality.
The recognition of Kemin and its growing partner came after a rigorous third-party audit and assessment by SCS Global Services (SCS). Sustainably Grown is one of the most stringent certification standards, supporting long-term sustainable agricultural production by identifying crops grown in accordance with exceptional environmental and social responsibility as well as quality and safety requirements.
"Kemin Industries continues to demonstrate leadership in the food and personal care product sectors with plant ingredients that meet the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility," said Nathan Smith, SCS’ Managing Director of Food and Agriculture. "We are pleased to be able to report that 100% of spearmint produced by Kemin meets the requirements of the Certified Sustainably Grown standard."
Hi-RA Mint, which takes its name from “high Rosmarinic Acid," is a proprietary line of spearmint developed by Kemin scientists. Spearmint plants are excellent producers of diverse phytochemicals for flavoring preservation and health benefits. That’s why Kemin has developed two clonal lines that are traditionally bred to naturally select for phytochemicals that are suitable for commercial production for food, personal care, health, and pet food applications.
“The timing of our Sustainably Grown certification couldn’t be better,” said Dr. John Greaves, Kemin vice president of specialty crops. “Market demand for plant-based antioxidants, preservatives, and flavorings is soaring and it’s even more important than ever to use long-term, sustainable techniques that are good for the land, show social responsibility and produce crops grown in accordance with quality and safety requirements. At Kemin we take a long view and have a growing number of customers who feel the same way.”
To produce Hi-RA Mint, Kemin co-farms with a five-generation, family-owned operation that has an unwavering commitment to excellence. The partner, strategically located in an area of Indiana with favorable mint-growing conditions, shares the company’s commitment to sustainability, safety and quality.
Friday, November 21, 2014
PISC partners with B Lab for accelerator program
The Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition (PISC) has partnered with non-profit B Lab to help companies evaluate their sustainability performance as part of PISC's Accelerator program. The Accelerator is a collaborative program designed to help companies identify and implement key areas of improvement in sustainability.
“This is a partnership that connects two organizations with similar core values and leverages their potential to provide a critically needed tool for PISC members,” said Spencer Williams, president of West Paw Design and founding member of PISC. “Here at West Paw, the B Lab assessment has been a catalyst for employee lead improvements, building pride and furthering innovation.”
B Lab is used as part of the second step of the Accelerator program, where participants take a quick assessment that focuses on three areas of sustainability: environment, community and employees. After completing the assessment, companies receive report cards with comparative results from other companies participating in the program that will assist them in building a plan for improvement with PISC.
“This is a partnership that connects two organizations with similar core values and leverages their potential to provide a critically needed tool for PISC members,” said Spencer Williams, president of West Paw Design and founding member of PISC. “Here at West Paw, the B Lab assessment has been a catalyst for employee lead improvements, building pride and furthering innovation.”
B Lab is used as part of the second step of the Accelerator program, where participants take a quick assessment that focuses on three areas of sustainability: environment, community and employees. After completing the assessment, companies receive report cards with comparative results from other companies participating in the program that will assist them in building a plan for improvement with PISC.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Whole Foods, American Tuna partner to offer sustainable tuna petfood
Whole Foods has partnered with vendor American Tuna to create a new sustainable petfood line from red meat tuna portions.
American Tuna’s brand, also called American Tuna, is a line of sustainably fished tuna for human consumption and is sold in Whole Foods Markets. "Whole Foods wanted zero-food waste,” said Natalie Webster, a member of one of six fishing families that founded American Tuna, "so we came up with Deck Hand [cat food] and Whole Foods thought it was a great idea.” Deck Hand uses the red meat portion of the company's albacore and skipjack tunas left over from the processing of the human food Pole & Line brand.
In addition, any leftover tuna parts, not used for cat or human-grade food, become fish and bone meal for animal feed and no food waste is generated, as per Whole Foods’ wishes. Whole Foods began carrying Deck Hand Premium Cat Food and the human line Pole & Line in May 2014. Deck Hand comes in single 3- and 5-ounce cans and in a 3-ounce can three-pack running US$1.99. Singly, 3-ounce cans are US$0.69 and the 5-ounce cans are US$0.89.
American Tuna’s brand, also called American Tuna, is a line of sustainably fished tuna for human consumption and is sold in Whole Foods Markets. "Whole Foods wanted zero-food waste,” said Natalie Webster, a member of one of six fishing families that founded American Tuna, "so we came up with Deck Hand [cat food] and Whole Foods thought it was a great idea.” Deck Hand uses the red meat portion of the company's albacore and skipjack tunas left over from the processing of the human food Pole & Line brand.
In addition, any leftover tuna parts, not used for cat or human-grade food, become fish and bone meal for animal feed and no food waste is generated, as per Whole Foods’ wishes. Whole Foods began carrying Deck Hand Premium Cat Food and the human line Pole & Line in May 2014. Deck Hand comes in single 3- and 5-ounce cans and in a 3-ounce can three-pack running US$1.99. Singly, 3-ounce cans are US$0.69 and the 5-ounce cans are US$0.89.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition announces release event for sustainability program
The Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition has announced "The Launch," a release event for a new pilot program focusing on sustainability. The group will formally reveal the new program in conjunction with SuperZoo, on July 21, 2014.
"We are super excited to share tangible business-to-business sustainability success stories and announce some very big untertakings here at PISC," said organizers. Details including speakers and guest attendees will be announced soon. Register at www.petsustainability.org.
"We are super excited to share tangible business-to-business sustainability success stories and announce some very big untertakings here at PISC," said organizers. Details including speakers and guest attendees will be announced soon. Register at www.petsustainability.org.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Sustainability a growing issue in the petfood industry
Sustainability is a growing force in the world at large, and the petfood industry is not immune, according to Caitlyn Bolton, executive director of the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition, who spoke at Petfood Forum 2014 on April 2. Bolton's presentation, "Sustainability Stories Shaping the Pet Industry," focused on defining sustainability and introducing the ways in which the petfood industry can communicate with its customers to make sustainability an understandable issue.
There are two ways to look at sustainability, according to Bolton. One viewpoint is the "moral imperative": As human beings, we have a responsibility to future generations, the planet, its wildlife and its ecosystems. The other viewpoint takes a more business-like approach, addressing risk mitigation, costly supply issues, safety and transparency issues efficiency improvements that save a company money. Both are important for understanding the importance of sustainability as a whole.
Communication is key on multiple levels and with multiple audiences. "You really have to simplify with all your audiences," said Bolton. Learning their problems and issues regarding sustainability and figuring out how to reach them and work with them is a vital strategy. Whether the audience is internal to the company, involved in the supply chain, a larger part of the industry or the end consumer, the general plan should be the same. You should try to connect with your audience, and aim to become a facilitator to help them figure out what they care about-create a shared platform around sustainability. "How can we be an enabler?" said Bolton.
Emotions can be an easy way to tell the sustainability story, and the petfood industry has a leg up, according to Bolton. "It's easy to appeal to emotions, social desires and shared value," she said. Whatever plan gets put in place, the sustainability story a company is telling must be backed up with a strategy-and they must follow through.
Communication at all levels
Communicating at the employee level is all about connecting them with the company's message. "They want to be engaged, they want to feel like their work is useful," said Bolton. In particular, "Generation Y wants to be engaged in a workforce that makes a difference." From a business standpoint, engaged employees mean 16% higher profitability, 18% higher productivity and 12% more customer loyalty.
Communicating at the retail level is essential, and ties into supply chain communication. Retailers, said Bolton, are beginning to ask questions about the sustainability of products because it's what they're hearing from their customers. Customers want more transparency in their pet products and are interested in sustainability-retailers need to know what products to sell to meet this emerging need, and they're going to want their answers from the companies providing those products.
Supply chain communication expands from the need for those answers. Companies will need to determine what parts of the supply chain are most affected by a sustainability plan, and discuss the fine points with vendors.
Solid consumer communication is the end result. "Customers are looking for a company to help enable them to be better global citizens," said Bolton. This moral viewpoint makes sustainability an attractive idea, and it's the job of the petfood industry to ensure that consumers are educated. The data backs this up: "If price and quality are equal, social purpose ranks as the most important quality in a brand," said Bolton.
Sustainability is here to stay, and its many facets will take some industry work to get a solid grip on. Collaborative petfood issues include sustainable sourcing, standard evolution metrics and packaging. But these issues are worth creating a plan for, and the right communication strategies will lead to industry success.
There are two ways to look at sustainability, according to Bolton. One viewpoint is the "moral imperative": As human beings, we have a responsibility to future generations, the planet, its wildlife and its ecosystems. The other viewpoint takes a more business-like approach, addressing risk mitigation, costly supply issues, safety and transparency issues efficiency improvements that save a company money. Both are important for understanding the importance of sustainability as a whole.
Communication is key on multiple levels and with multiple audiences. "You really have to simplify with all your audiences," said Bolton. Learning their problems and issues regarding sustainability and figuring out how to reach them and work with them is a vital strategy. Whether the audience is internal to the company, involved in the supply chain, a larger part of the industry or the end consumer, the general plan should be the same. You should try to connect with your audience, and aim to become a facilitator to help them figure out what they care about-create a shared platform around sustainability. "How can we be an enabler?" said Bolton.
Emotions can be an easy way to tell the sustainability story, and the petfood industry has a leg up, according to Bolton. "It's easy to appeal to emotions, social desires and shared value," she said. Whatever plan gets put in place, the sustainability story a company is telling must be backed up with a strategy-and they must follow through.
Communication at all levels
Communicating at the employee level is all about connecting them with the company's message. "They want to be engaged, they want to feel like their work is useful," said Bolton. In particular, "Generation Y wants to be engaged in a workforce that makes a difference." From a business standpoint, engaged employees mean 16% higher profitability, 18% higher productivity and 12% more customer loyalty.
Communicating at the retail level is essential, and ties into supply chain communication. Retailers, said Bolton, are beginning to ask questions about the sustainability of products because it's what they're hearing from their customers. Customers want more transparency in their pet products and are interested in sustainability-retailers need to know what products to sell to meet this emerging need, and they're going to want their answers from the companies providing those products.
Supply chain communication expands from the need for those answers. Companies will need to determine what parts of the supply chain are most affected by a sustainability plan, and discuss the fine points with vendors.
Solid consumer communication is the end result. "Customers are looking for a company to help enable them to be better global citizens," said Bolton. This moral viewpoint makes sustainability an attractive idea, and it's the job of the petfood industry to ensure that consumers are educated. The data backs this up: "If price and quality are equal, social purpose ranks as the most important quality in a brand," said Bolton.
Sustainability is here to stay, and its many facets will take some industry work to get a solid grip on. Collaborative petfood issues include sustainable sourcing, standard evolution metrics and packaging. But these issues are worth creating a plan for, and the right communication strategies will lead to industry success.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Petco partners with Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition
The Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition (PISC) recently interviewed Jim Thomas, vice president sustainability, safety & environmental health at Petco, to discuss why sustainability is so important to the pet product retailer. Petco is the first retailer to join the PISC.
"At Petco we believe that reducing waste, using less energy and recycling materials saves money, is good for business and benefits the environment. Pet parents really care about the environment, and our job is to provide them with products that are aligned with their values," Thomas said.
He said Petco is working with its vendors to pursue its sustainability goals and reduce its "environmental paw print."
"Sustainability at Petco requires us to engage our internal teams and work with all of our suppliers to improve the products that reach our shelves," Thomas said.
He said it is sustainability can benefit Petco's vendors, too.
"Everyone in our internal organization somehow touches sustainability - from the purchasing agent working with buyers to the administrative assistant who makes sure that reports are printed double-sided. From the vendor perspective, there wouldn't be a single supplier that couldn't benefit and shouldn't be paying attention to sustainability," he said. "All companies generate waste, use materials, water and resources and there are potential ways to do it better."
The company hopes to develop sustainability criteria similar to the Walmart Sustainability Index within five years, Thomas said.
"Customers are going to demand more transparency and traceability. Arguably, if you want sustainable products, you have to ask suppliers questions in order to determine what to buy. At the end of the day we may not see sustainability as the No. 1 purchasing criteria, but it will surely rise into consideration along with price, quality, and customer service."
"At Petco we believe that reducing waste, using less energy and recycling materials saves money, is good for business and benefits the environment. Pet parents really care about the environment, and our job is to provide them with products that are aligned with their values," Thomas said.
He said Petco is working with its vendors to pursue its sustainability goals and reduce its "environmental paw print."
"Sustainability at Petco requires us to engage our internal teams and work with all of our suppliers to improve the products that reach our shelves," Thomas said.
He said it is sustainability can benefit Petco's vendors, too.
"Everyone in our internal organization somehow touches sustainability - from the purchasing agent working with buyers to the administrative assistant who makes sure that reports are printed double-sided. From the vendor perspective, there wouldn't be a single supplier that couldn't benefit and shouldn't be paying attention to sustainability," he said. "All companies generate waste, use materials, water and resources and there are potential ways to do it better."
The company hopes to develop sustainability criteria similar to the Walmart Sustainability Index within five years, Thomas said.
"Customers are going to demand more transparency and traceability. Arguably, if you want sustainable products, you have to ask suppliers questions in order to determine what to buy. At the end of the day we may not see sustainability as the No. 1 purchasing criteria, but it will surely rise into consideration along with price, quality, and customer service."
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Increasing popularity of raw petfood, impact on sustainability discussed in recent article
A recent article in The Vancouver Sun looks at the history of petfood and increasing popularity of raw petfood diets, as a recent report by Mintel points out that nine of 10 pet owners say they view their pet as "family members," and so, look to feed their pets the best diet possible.
"Anthropomorphism of pets has an increased effect on the dietary aspects of commercial petfoods including ingredient selection and nutritional composition," said animal science researcher, Kelly Swanson of the University of Illinois.
Swanson said that raw food has become increasingly popular because some pet owners do not want animal byproducts in their pet's food, demanding real meat instead. This also impacts sustainability because "petfoods compete now directly with human consumption."
Another change over the years is that companies are selling petfood products with a higher protein content, the article notes. Swanson said some diets contain 40-60 percent protein up to as much as nearly 90 percent.
"The raw food diet is fairly controversial. I have friends who feed their pets raw food and their pets are fine. But it's a tricky thing to do, and people forget about the issue of sustainability. They'll recycle their cans on one hand, but food shortages in some countries are not on their radar when they are dealing with their pets' food," said Swanson.
"Dogs are living longer, healthier lives because of how much healthier the dry kibble diets are now from reputable food manufacturers," said Dr. Rebecca Ledger, an animal behaviorist in Vancouver, Canada.
"Anthropomorphism of pets has an increased effect on the dietary aspects of commercial petfoods including ingredient selection and nutritional composition," said animal science researcher, Kelly Swanson of the University of Illinois.
Swanson said that raw food has become increasingly popular because some pet owners do not want animal byproducts in their pet's food, demanding real meat instead. This also impacts sustainability because "petfoods compete now directly with human consumption."
Another change over the years is that companies are selling petfood products with a higher protein content, the article notes. Swanson said some diets contain 40-60 percent protein up to as much as nearly 90 percent.
"The raw food diet is fairly controversial. I have friends who feed their pets raw food and their pets are fine. But it's a tricky thing to do, and people forget about the issue of sustainability. They'll recycle their cans on one hand, but food shortages in some countries are not on their radar when they are dealing with their pets' food," said Swanson.
"Dogs are living longer, healthier lives because of how much healthier the dry kibble diets are now from reputable food manufacturers," said Dr. Rebecca Ledger, an animal behaviorist in Vancouver, Canada.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Novus International releases 2012 sustainability report
Stratum Nutrition's parent company, Novus International Inc., released its fifth annual sustainability report, providing detailed information and examples of how the company works to improve and advance its sustainability efforts.
The 2012 Novus Sustainability report applies The Global Reporting Initiative Framework at Application Level B. GRI is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization, which acts to increase the level of business transparency by promoting sustainability reporting among companies worldwide.
"We know that one company alone may not affect the large-scale change needed to secure our sustainable future; however we strive to set a standard for sustainability," said Thad Simons, president and CEO at Novus International. "By working together to advance shared objectives, we can succeed in making a better life for ourselves and for future generations. This report serves to reinforce the value we place on these partnerships."
"Stratum utilizes partnerships to empower product innovation both upstream and downstream," Jeremy Moore, president, Stratum Nutrition, said. "Upstream we work with our technology partners to further the science and commercialization of each specialty ingredient. Downstream we further the natural products industry by working with finished product partners who want innovative, scientifically supported and consumer-needed product solutions. Developing these partner relationships help our global nutrition industry grow sustainably."
The report is available in a digital edition, along with interactive videos and content on the company's website.
The 2012 Novus Sustainability report applies The Global Reporting Initiative Framework at Application Level B. GRI is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization, which acts to increase the level of business transparency by promoting sustainability reporting among companies worldwide.
"We know that one company alone may not affect the large-scale change needed to secure our sustainable future; however we strive to set a standard for sustainability," said Thad Simons, president and CEO at Novus International. "By working together to advance shared objectives, we can succeed in making a better life for ourselves and for future generations. This report serves to reinforce the value we place on these partnerships."
"Stratum utilizes partnerships to empower product innovation both upstream and downstream," Jeremy Moore, president, Stratum Nutrition, said. "Upstream we work with our technology partners to further the science and commercialization of each specialty ingredient. Downstream we further the natural products industry by working with finished product partners who want innovative, scientifically supported and consumer-needed product solutions. Developing these partner relationships help our global nutrition industry grow sustainably."
The report is available in a digital edition, along with interactive videos and content on the company's website.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Sensient Colors focuses on sustainability
Sensient Colors LLC, a business unit of Sensient Technologies Corporation, is focusing on its commitment to applying sustainable practices to secure quality raw material and create sustainable color solutions.
The company says its global supply chain is managed regionally for optimal monitoring and to ensure a collaborative relationship with the grower of raw ingredients to improve growing standards, produce stable botanical sources and optimize food quality. Specifically, Sensient has focused on energy reduction by installing motion-detected energy efficient lighting systems, working with raw material suppliers to limit usage of non-renewable energy sources such as coal, and implementing zero-discharge programs with suppliers in China and India to eliminate wastewater.
The company also implemented waste-reducing systems, including a corporate-wide recycling program, capital investments in packaging systems with reduced carbon footprint, and new software programs to eliminate paper transactions.
Additionally, products are developed with the goal of reducing product and application waste. Sensient recently introduced new AccuPak dissolvable color bags in the US, which are dissolvable bags that reduce packaging materials and minimize plant clean-up costs. Soon it will launch new Elvajet digital ink technology, which Sensient says reduces water consumption by up to 90 percent, energy consumption by 60 percent and CO2 emissions by up to 75 percent versus conventional printing processes.
"We evaluate and renew our commitment to sustainability constantly at Sensient Colors because we believe that implementing sustainability programs is an important ethical decision for Sensient and it makes good business sense. Our approach involves examining all aspects of our business, how they interact and discovering new solutions that deliver a lasting, positive environmental impact," says Mike Geraghty, president, Color Group, Sensient Technologies Corporation.
The company says its global supply chain is managed regionally for optimal monitoring and to ensure a collaborative relationship with the grower of raw ingredients to improve growing standards, produce stable botanical sources and optimize food quality. Specifically, Sensient has focused on energy reduction by installing motion-detected energy efficient lighting systems, working with raw material suppliers to limit usage of non-renewable energy sources such as coal, and implementing zero-discharge programs with suppliers in China and India to eliminate wastewater.
The company also implemented waste-reducing systems, including a corporate-wide recycling program, capital investments in packaging systems with reduced carbon footprint, and new software programs to eliminate paper transactions.
Additionally, products are developed with the goal of reducing product and application waste. Sensient recently introduced new AccuPak dissolvable color bags in the US, which are dissolvable bags that reduce packaging materials and minimize plant clean-up costs. Soon it will launch new Elvajet digital ink technology, which Sensient says reduces water consumption by up to 90 percent, energy consumption by 60 percent and CO2 emissions by up to 75 percent versus conventional printing processes.
"We evaluate and renew our commitment to sustainability constantly at Sensient Colors because we believe that implementing sustainability programs is an important ethical decision for Sensient and it makes good business sense. Our approach involves examining all aspects of our business, how they interact and discovering new solutions that deliver a lasting, positive environmental impact," says Mike Geraghty, president, Color Group, Sensient Technologies Corporation.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Sustainability of pet ownership, feeding practices topics of new research
University of Illinois animal sciences researcher, Kelly Swanson, in cooperation with scientists at natural petfood maker, the Nutro Co., raised a number of important questions on the sustainability of pet ownership in new research.
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present while not compromising the future. Swanson said that although the carbon footprint aspect of sustainability receives the most attention, nutritional aspects are also important. “If you just change the diet a little, the financial and environmental costs associated with it are quite different,” he explained.
Since dietary ingredient selection and nutrient composition affect the sustainability of the petfood system, and because protein is costly financially and to the environment, protein source and amount of protein in the diet are especially important.
Swanson's research shows that dogs and cats require specific nutrients, not specific ingredients, making it possible to meet nutrient requirements with a variety of nutrient sources. For example, animal protein can be replaced by plant protein, which requires less water and energy to produce. Soy-based proteins are a common petfood ingredient, and their production is estimated to be 6 to 20 times more efficient in terms of fossil fuel requirements, Swanson said.
Petfood manufacturers also make heavy use of the secondary products from the human food chain. “That’s great from a sustainability standpoint because we’re using the products that would otherwise not be used,” he said.
Swanson's research shows there are strategies to make petfood manufacturing more sustainable while still meeting the animals' nutritional needs and keeping products affordable.
“Advancement in areas of nutritional sustainability will help us develop innovative products to improve pet health and nutrition and produce quality and safe petfood,” said Rebecca Carter, research scientist at The Nutro Company. “Nutritional sustainability is part of a wider sustainability platform to improve the sustainability of our products and promote the sustainability of pet ownership and the petfood industry.”
Swanson stresses the importance of educating consumers and veterinarians, as well as the petfood industry, about sustainable feeding practices.
“[Pets are] being fed as much as 20 percent more than they need, so their health is poor, and you’re wasting all that food,” said Swanson. “Especially with cats, it’s very difficult.”
Swanson said it would be helpful to develop a model that would estimate the environmental impact of petfoods and serve as a basis for strategies to increase the sustainability of petfoods in the future. Researchers concluded that there are no “good” or “bad” feeding practices, but just some that are more or less sustainable. They hope the findings highlight areas where changes could be made to current practices and stimulate discussion within the industry so that the overall sustainability of petfoods may be improved in the future.
"Nutritional Sustainability of Pet Foods" by Kelly S. Swanson, Rebecca A. Carter, Tracy P. Yount, Jan Aretz and Preston R. Buff was recently published in Advances in Nutrition and can be viewed online.
Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present while not compromising the future. Swanson said that although the carbon footprint aspect of sustainability receives the most attention, nutritional aspects are also important. “If you just change the diet a little, the financial and environmental costs associated with it are quite different,” he explained.
Since dietary ingredient selection and nutrient composition affect the sustainability of the petfood system, and because protein is costly financially and to the environment, protein source and amount of protein in the diet are especially important.
Swanson's research shows that dogs and cats require specific nutrients, not specific ingredients, making it possible to meet nutrient requirements with a variety of nutrient sources. For example, animal protein can be replaced by plant protein, which requires less water and energy to produce. Soy-based proteins are a common petfood ingredient, and their production is estimated to be 6 to 20 times more efficient in terms of fossil fuel requirements, Swanson said.
Petfood manufacturers also make heavy use of the secondary products from the human food chain. “That’s great from a sustainability standpoint because we’re using the products that would otherwise not be used,” he said.
Swanson's research shows there are strategies to make petfood manufacturing more sustainable while still meeting the animals' nutritional needs and keeping products affordable.
“Advancement in areas of nutritional sustainability will help us develop innovative products to improve pet health and nutrition and produce quality and safe petfood,” said Rebecca Carter, research scientist at The Nutro Company. “Nutritional sustainability is part of a wider sustainability platform to improve the sustainability of our products and promote the sustainability of pet ownership and the petfood industry.”
Swanson stresses the importance of educating consumers and veterinarians, as well as the petfood industry, about sustainable feeding practices.
“[Pets are] being fed as much as 20 percent more than they need, so their health is poor, and you’re wasting all that food,” said Swanson. “Especially with cats, it’s very difficult.”
Swanson said it would be helpful to develop a model that would estimate the environmental impact of petfoods and serve as a basis for strategies to increase the sustainability of petfoods in the future. Researchers concluded that there are no “good” or “bad” feeding practices, but just some that are more or less sustainable. They hope the findings highlight areas where changes could be made to current practices and stimulate discussion within the industry so that the overall sustainability of petfoods may be improved in the future.
"Nutritional Sustainability of Pet Foods" by Kelly S. Swanson, Rebecca A. Carter, Tracy P. Yount, Jan Aretz and Preston R. Buff was recently published in Advances in Nutrition and can be viewed online.
Friday, April 12, 2013
New Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition seeks industry members
A natural pet product company and consulting company have joined forces to form the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition. The sustainability coalition seeks to promote sustainable progress in the pet industry.
The coalition's three-part approach includes:
• Identifying businesses' sustainability needs and developing collaborative innovation to meet those needs.
• Providing tools and resources designed to guide members toward sustainability milestones.
• Developing a voluntary accreditation program that aims to create industry standards and sustainability language.
Formed by Chris Bentley, co-founder of natural pet product companies I and Love and You and Only Natural Pet, as well as the consulting firm Natural Capitalism Solutions, the coalition accepts a founding-member pledge of US$10,000 and also offers a free membership option. Other founding members include Kong Co., Petco, West Paw Design, Planet Dog and Cardinal Pet Care. Pet industry manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the eco-friendly pet products market are encouraged to join.
The coalition's three-part approach includes:
• Identifying businesses' sustainability needs and developing collaborative innovation to meet those needs.
• Providing tools and resources designed to guide members toward sustainability milestones.
• Developing a voluntary accreditation program that aims to create industry standards and sustainability language.
Formed by Chris Bentley, co-founder of natural pet product companies I and Love and You and Only Natural Pet, as well as the consulting firm Natural Capitalism Solutions, the coalition accepts a founding-member pledge of US$10,000 and also offers a free membership option. Other founding members include Kong Co., Petco, West Paw Design, Planet Dog and Cardinal Pet Care. Pet industry manufacturers, distributors and retailers in the eco-friendly pet products market are encouraged to join.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mars' Sheba brand to offer sustainably sourced fish entrées for cats
- Only using fish from 100 percent sustainable wild catch and sustainable aquaculture sources
- Replacing all wild catch whole fish and fish fillet with sustainable fish byproducts and sustainable aquaculture
- Only using sustainable alternatives to marine fish ingredients
Mars Petcare's Sheba brand announced that it will offer responsibly sourced fish entrées for cats in the US as part of Mars Petcare's global commitment to use only sustainably sourced fish by 2020.
Following the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program sourcing recommendations, Sheba Entrées will use only farmed or wild-caught fish from environmentally responsible sources. The brand currently offers five varieties of responsibly sourced whitefish, tuna and seafood options, but by the end of 2013, all of the recipes will meet Seafood Watch recommendations.
In March 2010, the global petcare segment of Mars made a commitment to use only sustainably sourced fish by 2020. As global fish stocks continue to decline, the company aims to achieve the following milestones across its entire pet care portfolio by 2020:
Following the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program sourcing recommendations, Sheba Entrées will use only farmed or wild-caught fish from environmentally responsible sources. The brand currently offers five varieties of responsibly sourced whitefish, tuna and seafood options, but by the end of 2013, all of the recipes will meet Seafood Watch recommendations.
In March 2010, the global petcare segment of Mars made a commitment to use only sustainably sourced fish by 2020. As global fish stocks continue to decline, the company aims to achieve the following milestones across its entire pet care portfolio by 2020:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Pet food container concept wins Project 2020 packaging design contest
At Pack Expo 2011 in Las Vegas, an innovative petfood container concept submitted by Directions Marketing was named the grand prize winner in Project 2020: The Consumer Experience.
Project 2020 challenges the design community to imagine how packaging will drive consumer purchasing decisions in a decade. Designed to bring functionality and recyclability to bulk petfood packaging, the winning container has an interlocking triangular design and uniform size and shape. Accordion-type compression reduces container height as product is dispensed and the container folds flat to be recycled when empty. For consumers, the package features built-in, pop-up handles and resealable lids. For retailers and brand owners, extraneous packaging is reduced and the container has the potential for retail-ready display. "We named the concept Tri-tainer, and it addresses two main challenges: portability and recyclability," said Jeff Hillis, art director with Directions Marketing. "Current dog food bag packaging is difficult to transport. And, once home, equally as difficult to manage. To make storage and dispensing easier, the food is often transferred from the bag to a separate container. The laminated bag is then thrown out, which causes recycling issues because of the multiple substrates used to make the bag. Tri-tainer solves these problems."
As the grand prize winner, Directions Marketing will receive the Complete Studio Bundle from software partner EskoArtwork. The other nine finalists will receive copies of Studio Designer, EskoArtwork's 3D visualization plug-in for Adobe Illustrator.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Exopack invests US$13 million in new pet food packaging equipment
Pet food packaging manufacturer Exopack invested US$13 million in new manufacturing equipment and technologies for its Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA and Tomah, Wisconsin, USA, manufacturing facilities to expand current product offerings.
At the Spartanburg facility, a Starlinger woven poly propylene converting cell will be installed to expand production of Rave composite bags. The Tomah plant will receive new machines designed for pet food packages, which are expected to be operational by October.“Our recent investments will allow for the development of new sustainable package formats and manufacturing processes, support customer marketing requirements, and provide a production platform capable of supporting future technological innovations," said Scott Ross, vice president and general manager of the company's pet food and specialty products business unit.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Novus gives social sustainability presentation at SAI Platform global conference
Novus International Inc.'s chief sustainability officer gave a presentation on social sustainability at the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform's global conference in Canberra, Australia.
Joyce Cacho, PhD, spoke about "Social Sustainability – Augmenting Business Strategies" and shared examples from Novus' experience. Novus joined SAI Platform in 2009, a food industry-based organization that supports and innovates agricultural practices to promote the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. Dr. Cacho said Novus currently operates several social sustainability programs around the world, like the Novus Scholars Program in China, India and Korea as well as a Heifer International project in Vietnam.
“Social sustainability is now an established business practice for a growing number of large food producers because it is viewed as an investment in responding to customer challenges,” Dr. Cacho said. “And just like environmental and economic sustainability programs, social sustainability investments must be made measurable and held accountable before they can deliver the risk management returns and make an impact in communities that define the marketplace.”
Joyce Cacho, PhD, spoke about "Social Sustainability – Augmenting Business Strategies" and shared examples from Novus' experience. Novus joined SAI Platform in 2009, a food industry-based organization that supports and innovates agricultural practices to promote the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. Dr. Cacho said Novus currently operates several social sustainability programs around the world, like the Novus Scholars Program in China, India and Korea as well as a Heifer International project in Vietnam.
“Social sustainability is now an established business practice for a growing number of large food producers because it is viewed as an investment in responding to customer challenges,” Dr. Cacho said. “And just like environmental and economic sustainability programs, social sustainability investments must be made measurable and held accountable before they can deliver the risk management returns and make an impact in communities that define the marketplace.”
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mars Petcare launches Marine Stewardship Council certified products in UK
Mars Petcare launched Marine Stewardship Council certified products in UK stores as part of the company's commitment to use only sustainably-sourced fish in all products by 2020.
Select packs of Mars Petcare’s Sheba and Whiskas petfood lines for cats are MSC-certified and available in UK stores.
Mars Petcare says it aims to achieve the following across its entire petcare portfolio as part of the MSC product certification: use only fish from 100% sustainable wild catch and sustainable aquaculture sources; replace all wild catch whole fish and fish fillet with sustainable fish by-products and sustainable aquaculture; and use only sustainable alternatives to marine fish ingredients.
“For consumers, making the best environmental choice can be tricky – especially when you are trying to apply the same ethical values to all aspects of your weekly shop. Making sustainable seafood choices can be a particular challenge, whether you are looking for sustainable haddock for the family or cat food for the family pet," said Toby Middleton, MSC-UK manager. "By sourcing MSC certified fish and using the MSC ecolabel in these new ranges, Mars Petcare has made it simple for cat owners to shop with confidence and to reward sustainable fishing practice – even when buying for pets.”
Select packs of Mars Petcare’s Sheba and Whiskas petfood lines for cats are MSC-certified and available in UK stores.
Mars Petcare says it aims to achieve the following across its entire petcare portfolio as part of the MSC product certification: use only fish from 100% sustainable wild catch and sustainable aquaculture sources; replace all wild catch whole fish and fish fillet with sustainable fish by-products and sustainable aquaculture; and use only sustainable alternatives to marine fish ingredients.
“For consumers, making the best environmental choice can be tricky – especially when you are trying to apply the same ethical values to all aspects of your weekly shop. Making sustainable seafood choices can be a particular challenge, whether you are looking for sustainable haddock for the family or cat food for the family pet," said Toby Middleton, MSC-UK manager. "By sourcing MSC certified fish and using the MSC ecolabel in these new ranges, Mars Petcare has made it simple for cat owners to shop with confidence and to reward sustainable fishing practice – even when buying for pets.”
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
GA Pet Food Partners wins 'Environmental Best Practice' green Oscar
This "green Oscar" was awarded to the petfood manufacturer for investing in and installing a recycling station for its hard waste. This took GA from 100% landfill to 95% recycling in 12 months. The landfill site’s dedicated wastewater treatment works, which is able to recycle 100% of its wastewater, was also praised as part of the award.
“This award is recognition for just one part of the integrated environmental plan that GA is using as its blueprint for ongoing developments throughout the whole business,” said GA Chairman Roger Bracewell.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
DuPont accepting entries for packaging innovation awards
DuPont Packaging announced it will begin accepting entries in the 23rd DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.
Packaging designers, retailers and manufacturers may all enter their new product packaging developments in the competition at no cost. Entries will be evaluated by a jury panel for excellence in packaging innovation, sustainability and cost/waste reduction. Entry forms and guidelines are available online. The deadline for entries is Feb. 28, 2011 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2011.
“The industry is facing many challenges to address cost and waste reduction as well as sustainability demands while responding to consumers’ needs for greater convenience. Innovation is key to these new packaging approaches and we aim to recognize innovative solutions from around the world that address local needs,” said Shanna Moore, global director of sustainability at DuPont Packaging.
Packaging designers, retailers and manufacturers may all enter their new product packaging developments in the competition at no cost. Entries will be evaluated by a jury panel for excellence in packaging innovation, sustainability and cost/waste reduction. Entry forms and guidelines are available online. The deadline for entries is Feb. 28, 2011 and winners will be announced in the spring of 2011.
“The industry is facing many challenges to address cost and waste reduction as well as sustainability demands while responding to consumers’ needs for greater convenience. Innovation is key to these new packaging approaches and we aim to recognize innovative solutions from around the world that address local needs,” said Shanna Moore, global director of sustainability at DuPont Packaging.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Mars to only use sustainably sourced fish
Mars Petcare has committed to using only sustainably sourced fish by 2020 in its petfood products.
Dwindling global fish stocks prompted Mars to work with the World Wildlife Fund to develop its fish sustainability commitment.
Dwindling global fish stocks prompted Mars to work with the World Wildlife Fund to develop its fish sustainability commitment.
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