Sustainability through design – the big picture

The paradox of pets in society

The beneficial role of pet ownership in society is well-established, with physical and mental health benefits observed that include reduced blood pressure and reduced stress. However, in fulfilling this special role, pets are often treated as family members, and the ensuing humanisation, including the humanisation of pet food, in some minds, comes at a cost. 

Not only is there an ethical question about the humanisation of pet food, but no agreed definition of human-grade pet food ingredients exists. Besides, genuine human-grade pet food requires 100% compliance with human food safety regulations, making it very expensive and not accessible to all. 

Further adding to the paradox is the question of pet food sustainability and the environmental impact of dog faeces (estimated to amount to 10 million tonnes in the US in 2014), exacerbated by growing urbanisation, with 68% of the global population predicted to be living in cities by 2050.

Pressure is rising

Experts believe that most countries suffer from human malnutrition like undernourishment and obesity. Although obesity and undernourishment in pets is also evident, industry compliance with nutritional guidelines, such as AAFCO and FEDIAF, generally ensures a well-nourished pet population.

However, further pressure on pet food sustainability can be expected, since the UN has set the goal of ending human malnutrition by 2030, while at the same time the global population is predicted to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.

Towards pet food nutritional sustainability

The UN believes its goal is achievable through developing sustainable food systems, where a 

food system is defined as ‘a set of things working together as part of an interconnected whole’, and by changing the mindset of all actors to thinking from field-to-table. 

In such an interconnected system, values must be shared across the food system to ensure overall mutual benefit and avoid negatively affecting parts of the system inadvertently.

What might pet food sustainability look like under such a system? Based on the UN FAO definition, pet food nutritional sustainability might:

• have a low environmental impact
• have a positive impact on health for current and future pet populations
• protect biodiversity and ecosystems
• be accessible, economically fair and affordable
• be nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy
• optimise natural and human resources.

A 2013 review by Swanson et al outlined the concept of pet food ‘nutritional sustainability’ highlighting that: 

‘Pet food professionals have the opportunity to influence the sustainability of pet foods through product design, manufacturing processes, public education, and policy change.

A coordinated effort that includes all parts of the pet food industry, including ingredient buyers, formulators, and nutritionists, can improve the sustainability of pet foods and pet ownership.’

The challenge is: how can we achieve this to ensure that all pet food producers benefit and not only some?

The Danish model?

For the answer, it is worth looking to the model developed by the Danish Food Cluster in 2017, in recognition of the need for global food sustainability and the importance of the food sector to the Danish economy.

The model, ‘World-class Food Innovation Towards 2030’, is based on a strategy where food industry and suppliers cooperate to create a mutual food research and innovation agenda that ensures both food sustainability and the role of the Danish food industry as a global player. 

The model has seven key enablers: 

• sustainable production through a circular economy
• food design – from molecular interaction to excellent eating
• food analytics – documenting safe foods
• omics technologies – from molecules to understanding
• foods contributing to health and well-being
• agile and intelligent automation
• connected and competitive through smart use of big data.

(Reference: World-class Food Innovation Towards 2030; Danish Food Cluster, 2017)

Need for cooperation

As the pet food industry faces increasing scrutiny, the Danish model could provide a mechanism that facilitates industry-wide pet food sustainability. The process has already started and a recent example of change is the announcement of the UK scheme where pet owners can recycle pet food packaging. 

The question is: Is the industry willing to cooperate on a wide enough scale to implement the other enablers and ensure pet food sustainability for all?