Whether it’s cricket cookies or Harmless Hunt mice, you have probably noticed a growing wave of sustainable pet food options showing up in your feed. On top of the many things to weigh when selecting a food for your pet, eco-conscious options carry a two-for-one appeal: they can be good for your pet’s long-term health and lighter on the planet at the same time.
Why meat-heavy pet diets are getting a second look
The push toward sustainable pet food isn’t just a lifestyle preference. An increasing body of data shows that our collective dependence on meat-based products is putting real strain on the planet, and pet diets are a meaningful part of that equation. A 2017 UCLA study found that the average commercial pet diet accounts for roughly a quarter of the total environmental impact of domestic meat consumption. When you factor in packaging, transport, and food processing, the picture of your pet’s environmental footprint fills in considerably.
More and more pet owners are starting to ask these questions — not just about their own food choices, but about their animals’ as well.
Demand for sustainable alternatives is growing
Petaluma, a sustainable dog food brand, is one of the newer companies addressing what they describe as broad and growing consumer demand — one that isn’t limited to a single demographic or dietary background.
“There is growing consumer awareness about the problems with eating meat as it relates to the environment, putting aside animal ethics for a moment,” says Petaluma co-founder Caroline Buck. “There’s definitely a group of people who have already made dietary changes themselves, and they’re looking for other ways to cut back on their own animal product consumption. They are taking steps themselves, but they may not realize that their pets most likely consume a huge percentage of meat in their household, and that they can also thrive on a plant-based diet.”
After two years of research and development, Petaluma launched its first product to address both climate impact and pet nutrition simultaneously. Their food is baked in small batches in Wisconsin — a method that differs from the pressure-cooking and extrusion used in most commercial dog food. “It’s baked, which is different from most dog foods that are pressure-cooked and extruded. It’s available exclusively on our website,” Buck says.
Research is backing the sustainability story
A study commissioned by Petaluma estimates that, on average, their product requires 89% less land use, generates 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and uses 54% less freshwater compared to a typical commercial dog food diet. The $42 billion pet food market continues expanding, and recent consumer trend data from The American Pet Products Association shows growing spending on health-focused pet products, including supplements and premium formulas.
Buck says the customer profile that has emerged looks different from what they expected. “We thought we would get initial customers who were switching over from other plant-based formulas or other formulas that are trying to tell the sustainability story,” she says. “When in fact it’s been a much more mixed bag of customers — we’re getting a lot of people who are feeding premium pet food diets who are curious about Petaluma, which is encouraging.”
Sustainable doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere
Definitions of “sustainable” vary across the industry, with companies emphasizing different aspects of their operations. The Farmer’s Dog, for instance, focuses on packaging impact. “You can recycle the cardboard box the food is delivered in and our insulation is biodegradable,” the company explains. “You can compost it, or even just put it in the sink, run some water over it, and it will dissolve right down the drain.”
At the far end of the innovation spectrum, companies like Because Animals are developing lab-grown, cultured meat — a category aimed at removing animals from the production process entirely. The company says their products will include nutrients commonly absent from most commercial foods and will be derived from proteins that align with what cats and dogs evolved eating. This approach reflects a broader global trend: as populations grow and climate pressures mount, researchers across many industries are exploring alternatives to conventional livestock production.
Major industry players are taking note. Both Mars Petcare and Nestlé Purina Petcare have launched vegetarian or insect-based product lines. Mars introduced Lovebug, an insect-derived pet food brand, noting on its website that insect farming uses 80% less land than beef production. Lovebug’s formula, currently available only in the UK, uses black soldier fly larvae along with plant ingredients, and comes in plastic-free recyclable packaging.
Another Mars brand, Karma, is zero-waste, non-GMO, and built around a plant-first philosophy — 60% plant proteins and superfoods, supplemented with fish and chicken — while diverting 100% of production waste away from landfill.
Sustainable doesn’t automatically mean meat-free, either. Not every company in this space is eliminating animal protein from their formulas. For pet owners who believe strongly in carnivore-appropriate diets, sustainable options with reduced or responsibly sourced meat still exist.
“Pets can be an important part of a more sustainable world,” said Ikdeep Singh, President of Mars Petcare North America. Mars has also extended its sustainability commitments into established brands: Royal Canin’s partnership with TerraCycle lets pet owners return empty dry-food bags and wet-food pouches at participating veterinary clinics and specialty retailers, where they’re recycled into items like dog park benches and agility equipment.
Industry collaborations are expanding too. Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Bond Pet Foods have announced a partnership aimed at developing more sustainable alternatives to Hill’s conventional meat protein sources. And packaging giants like Mondi have developed new sustainable materials to replace aluminum in pet food packaging as pressure from environmentally conscious brands increases.
Things to consider when choosing new pet food
As you evaluate any new diet for your pet, Dr. Buck’s advice applies regardless of whether sustainability is your primary motivation. “For anyone evaluating any dog food, they should verify that it’s a balanced product from a nutritional perspective [meets guidelines] and isn’t missing any critical food groups.”
The FDA and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) are still updating their guidelines to address novel ingredients common in sustainable formulas, which means the burden of research currently falls on individual pet owners. Consulting your veterinarian before making a significant dietary change remains the best starting point, whatever direction you’re considering.
