As much as we love our beloved pets, we cannot ignore the impact animals have on the environment. From toys to pet food to single-use plastic trash bags, our carbon footprint cannot be ignored. As responsible pet owners, we have a responsibility to protect our cats and dogs and minimize their impact on the world.
Mission impossible? Don’t worry; we’re here to help. As pet parents, we know how difficult and challenging it can be to care for your furry friends while respecting the environment. After learning more about the impact of climate change on pets, food, cosmetics, toys and more, we are committed to helping you reduce your pets’ respiratory pollution while ensuring quality. While it is difficult to accept the negative impacts of pet ownership, we cannot deny that our pets are part of the climate crisis. Read on to learn more about how our favorite pets are helping to reduce the air pollution caused by our canines and companion animals.
What is a Carbon Footprint?
First, it’s important to understand what carbon dioxide is. We define the amount of greenhouse gases generated by our operations. This means that our pets’ carbon footprint is determined by the amount of greenhouse gases produced by their activities, especially their food. Your carbon footprint depends on several factors, including your body shape. For example, a large dog emits 770 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, while pet cats emit an average of 310 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
The animal feed industry and industrial animal production are the leading causes of deforestation in the world. Additionally, feeding dogs and cats in the United States produces 64 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, equivalent to the emissions of 13.6 million cars on the road. If our animals were another world, they would be the fifth largest carnivore in the world. Not to mention, approximately 634 million dog toys end up in U.S. landfills every year, equivalent to 40,500 tons of trash.
Consider your Pet’s Diet:
As mentioned earlier, the animal feed industry is a major environmental concern. You can save the planet by feeding your dog or cat food made from local ingredients. Choosing to make your own cat or dog food instead of paying for pet food companies that don’t care about organic pet food can reduce plastic waste and ensure that your pet is eating healthy food and high-quality food.
Supplementing with other proteins is another good option. Crickets are growing in popularity because they produce no methane and consume 2,000 times less water than cows. As people do, consider eating only vegetarian and healthy foods on certain days of the week – maybe meat-free Mondays? Consult your veterinarian before changing your dog’s diet. Consider a protein source that can help fight crowds, such as silver carp. Dog and cat food made from this white fish not only helps local fishermen but also helps combat the species.
The Best Sustainable Dog Food Brands:
Due to the scale of the pet food industry, every part of the supply chain—from harvesting and cultivation to production, distribution, and waste management—has a significant impact on the environment. According to the 2023 report, the global food market will reach US$160.8 billion by 2032.
Here are some of the ways common whole grains can change our world:
- Increased carbon footprint: Meat-based pet food is especially carbon-intensive, because of the emissions linked to livestock farming
- Overfishing: Fish-based pet food can put even more stress on already fragile marine ecosystems
- Use of natural resources: Lots of water, land, and energy go into making pet food
- Chemical pollution: Harmful chemicals from farming practices and manufacturing are sometimes released into the environment
- Waste: Traditional pet food packaging—which is often a mix of plastic, foil, and paper—usually isn’t recyclable, which contributes to landfill waste
- Biodiversity loss: Mass farming and fishing to support pet food production can impact, and even destroy, habitats—like deforestation
Sustainable dog food is produced by minimizing harm to the environment, animals and humans. They often use natural, high-quality materials and aim to reduce carbon emissions and waste.