The EU Green Deal and the pet industry

Ambitious policies

The European Union (EU) is fighting climate change through ambitious policies. The European Commission’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 sets Europe on a responsible path to becoming climate neutral by 2050, and all sectors of the economy and society – including the pet industry – have a role to play.

The environmental impact of the pet industry

The pet food industry is very mindful of its role in the responsible use of limited and renewable resources in its production activities, including minimising the environmental impact. FEDIAF, the EU pet food industry federation, has been supporting several actions developed by the European Commission (EC) in the context of the EU Green Deal, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Farm to Fork Strategy.

Pets bring numerous benefits to society, such as by instilling responsibility, encouraging social awareness and contributing to people’s well-being. Members of the pet food industry have a responsibility to strike a balance between the social and environmental aspects of sustainability so as not to compromise the viability of pets for future generations.

Upcycling surplus products

One important aspect of the pet food industry is the fact that it upcycles surplus products from the human food chain. The animal-based ingredients used in pet food cannot be used in human food for reasons such as popularity, cultural preferences or appearance. However, these valuable ingredients are safe and nutritious for pets. Furthermore, using by-products from the human food chain in pet food rather than disposing of them contributes to the circular economy by reducing food waste.

Some plant-based by-products such as grains and vegetables are also used in pet food manufacture and this represents a major opportunity to reduce GHG emissions. Therefore, the pet food industry is constantly looking for alternative proteins that ensure healthy, nutritious and high-quality food whilst reducing the environmental footprint of the products.

Environmental footprint

In terms of measuring the environmental footprint, FEDIAF developed the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for pet food in 2018, which has been endorsed by the European Commission. It gives clear guidelines for calculating the environmental footprint of prepared pet food products for cats and dogs – from ‘cradle to grave’ – and will help companies to evaluate and better understand the most relevant environmental effects.