This article from October 23 is enormously reassuring in how the big players such as Pets At Home are moving forward –

Supporting sustainable pet owners

Pets At Home

An example of these kinds of environmental commitments can be found at Pets at Home, the UK’s leading pet specialist retailer with 453 stores across the UK, which has made huge commitments to net zero goals.

The Pets At Home 2022 Social Value Report stated: “We are in a unique position to support our customers to be sustainable pet owners by leading the way in providing sustainable choices across our pet care ecosystem. Our goal for the planet is to be net zero by 2040, this is an ambitious carbon reduction goal that aligns to the Science Based Targets initiative.”

But as with any significant cultural shift, especially when it comes to pets, challenges lie ahead. There is still a lot of market education to be done and retailers need to step up to the plate in the same way they have done in the plant-based human space.

There is reason to remain optimistic that in five to 10 years’ time, most dog owners will not think twice about regularly feeding plant-based products whether that is in the form of complete meals, treats or dental chews.

If this happens, perhaps collectively as pet parents, we’ll be actively taking a bite out of the climate crisis.

Plant Ingredients in Dog Food

Plant Ingredients in Dog Food

An enormously positive article about the use of plant-based proteins in pet food written by PhD Veterinary Scientist Jelena Suran in February 2024

Hills Pet Food Vets Sued

Hills Pet Food Vets Sued

Colgate-Palmolive’s Hill’s pet food unit has been hit with a proposed class-action accusing it of conspiring with vets to disparage grain free and plant-based diets