"What we eat matters for the planet. Globally, food production is responsible for more than a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and has impacts on biodiversity, deforestation, and water use. Climate experts agree that eating less meat and more plants is better for the environment. What we feed our pets matters too, says John Harvey, a veterinary surgeon working on environmental sustainability at the University of Edinburgh."
"Though the study is U.K. focused, the dog food market there is similar to the United States: the sample included dry, wet, and raw foods, as well as grain-free and even plant-based options. Harvey and his team found that in the U.K., the production of ingredients for dog food accounts for about 1% of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions. Though 1% may seem small, it "does matter," Harvey says. "That's big.""
Nearly 1,000 dog-food varieties sold in the United Kingdom were compared for carbon footprint across dry, wet, raw, grain-free, and plant-based formulations. Ingredient production for U.K. dog food represents roughly 1% of national greenhouse gas emissions. When scaled globally to U.K.-style feeding patterns, emissions from dog food production could equal more than half of global commercial aviation jet fuel emissions, ranging approximately 59–99% depending on diets. Global food production causes over a quarter of greenhouse gases and affects biodiversity, deforestation, and water use. Shifting pet diets toward lower-meat or plant-based options can substantially reduce environmental impact.
Read at Fast Company
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