We live on a limited planet, and the prospect of climate change has evolved into a race against time. Producers and consumers alike are under increasing pressure to mitigate their environmental effect on the globe…, and sustainability has emerged as the primary focus of our worldwide efforts. Sustainability is increasingly being demanded of the food we feed our dogs since excellent dog food is no longer characterized only by its components, but also by its source.
It is reasonable to assume that dog food evolved alongside human food and that trends in the production of human food rapidly transfer to the production of all other types of food. This is most evident in the dog biscuits/kibble and dog rolls that comprise the majority of the contemporary dog’s diet. While there are debates over which nutrients constitute healthy dog food, it’s important to consider the environmental effect of various types of dog food.
The following is a summary of the sustainability of several dog meals.
Dry Food (Dog Biscuits / Kibble)
This is the most popular kind of dog food that people feed their dogs, owing to its affordability and ease of handling compared to the other types. Dry food is also regarded to be one of the worst types of pet food since it must be filled with preservatives to remain fresh on pet shop and supermarket shelves for long periods.
Additionally, dog biscuits and kibble usually have a high salt content, which may result in elevated blood pressure and heart disease in your dog.
The Sustainability Factor
Due to the variety of dry dog food available, it may be difficult to determine which are sustainable and which are not, but there are a few characteristics of dry dog food in general that are detrimental to the environment. Dry dog food often requires special packaging to preserve the food, keep it dry, and remain as portable and flexible as possible.
Once the meal has been consumed, the packaging is usually discarded as ruined. Often, the materials used to create the packaging are not recyclable, necessitating the acquisition of additional resources to create new bags. Not only are the majority of dry dog foods unhealthy for dogs, but their environmental effect makes them bad for everyone.
Foods in Cans/Wet Foods
As with dry food, wet and canned dog food are available in a wide range of flavors and formulations, ranging from costly scientifically designed choices to cheap bulk buys. Most dogs prefer wet and canned food because it more closely resembles fresh meat. Although canned dog food is not regulated in the same way as human food is, it often contains BPA, an endocrine disruptor.
Wet food is often packaged in plastic containers that can be cleaned and recycled, as can canned food cans, but this is not always more sustainable.
The Sustainability Factor
Again, as with dry food, the primary element affecting the environmental effect of canned and wet dog food is the packaging. In contrast to 25lb sacks of dog biscuits or kibble, these wet varieties of dog food are often packaged in meal-size containers or cans. This requires dog owners to recycle several cans or containers each week, rather than having a package containing enough food to last a month.
While wet food has its drawbacks, it seems to be a higher-quality dog meal than most inexpensive varieties of kibble or biscuit.
Raw Pet Food
Raw pet food, which has exploded in popularity in recent years, is a throwback to the diet we fed the dogs who lived with us before the industrial revolution. This is the most similar diet to their forefathers, and many raw pet food suppliers understand that dogs need more than the muscular cuts of meat that humans consume. When it comes to high-quality dog food, many veterinarians suggest include some raw pet food in your dog’s diet.
The Sustainability Factor
Compared to other types of dog food, raw pet food has a lot less doom and gloom, perhaps because it is so new to the market. The primary environmental impact of raw pet food is due to the cuts of meat used. While some people believe that prime cuts and human-grade pet food are healthier for their dogs, this isn’t always true.
While some individuals believe that prime cuts and human-grade pet food are preferable for their dogs, this is not always the case.
In the wild, a dog would consume various portions of an animal, instinctively understanding that it would get a range of nutrients necessary for survival. The same is true for our contemporary puppies, who need more than muscle protein.
Raw pet food may be regarded a high-quality dog food since it utilizes offcuts and animal parts that would otherwise be discarded. It is also far more sustainable than dry or wet food.