Dog food accounts for 1% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, study finds

"Dog food accounts for 1% of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions, according to research that finds wet, raw and meat-rich products are associated with substantially higher emissions than dry kibble. The analysis revealed striking differences in the environmental impact of commercial dog foods, with the highest-impact foods being responsible for up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-rated options. The findings will leave environmentally conscious pet owners torn between giving their dogs the most delicious food and minimising their impact on the climate."

"As a veterinary surgeon working on environmental sustainability, I regularly see owners torn between ideals of dogs as meateating wolves' and their wish to reduce environmental harm, said the study's principal investigator, John Harvey, from the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Our research shows just how large and variable the climate impact of dog food really is."

Commercial dog food production contributes roughly 0.9–1.3% of the United Kingdom’s total greenhouse gas emissions and about 2.3–3.7% of emissions from the UK food system. Carbon footprints were calculated for almost 1,000 commercially available dog foods using ingredient and nutrient labelling information. Impact varies widely: the highest-impact products generate up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-impact options. Wet, raw, meat-rich, and grain-free formulations are associated with substantially higher emissions, while standard dry kibble and use of low-demand carcass parts reduce impact. Global feeding patterns mirroring UK diets would add emissions comparable to over half of commercial aviation jet fuel burning annually.

Read at www.theguardian.com