Pet players worldwide secure new global industry certifications

Sustainability certifications and environmental assessments are increasingly shaping strategy across the global pet industry. Recent developments highlight how regulatory standards, traceability requirements and investor expectations are converging around measurable impact.

Loopworm

Indian biotech firm Loopworm announced that its silkworm-based ingredients for pet and animal nutrition are net carbon negative, meaning they remove more carbon than they emit.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted by PwC India in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, which establish requirements and guidelines for environmental management.

The LCA evaluated Loopworn’s LoopMeal and LoopOil against conventional protein meals and oils used in animal and pet nutrition, based on 18 sustainability parameters. 

The Bengaluru-based company currently produces 6,000 metric tons per annum of silkworm-based products comprising 4,800 metric tons of meal and 1,200 metric tons of oil.

“Prior to the LCA, we anticipated a larger share of our demand coming from the domestic Indian market. With the LCA now in hand, we are revising our geographic demand expectations significantly from regulated markets in the west, specifically Europe & the US, where sensitivity to sustainability is highest,” Abhi Gawri, Co-Founder & COO of Loopworm, tells GlobalPETS.

Gawri also noted a growing interest amongst impact investors in startups solving real-world sustainability challenges. “We believe this will open better conversations with impact-focused investors and potentially allow us to secure more favorable fundraising terms going forward,” he adds.

New Zealand Riverland Foods

Pet food manufacturer New Zealand Riverland Foods has secured 2 certifications focused on food safety, ingredient sustainability and traceability.

The company achieved certification under the Safe Quality Food Institute’s (SQF) Food Safety Code for Pet Food Manufacturing, a globally recognized standard benchmarked by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). 

The certification verifies that Riverland Foods operates under rigorous food safety management systems, covering hazard analysis, quality control, traceability, sanitation and operational oversight throughout the manufacturing process.

In addition, the company has been accepted into the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) Chain of Custody program. It enables certified marine ingredients to be tracked throughout the supply chain—from the fishery to the finished product.

“These qualifications are becoming more and more a mandatory requirement for our customers. Even though manufacturing and traceability standards in New Zealand are world class and regularly audited by the government, they are not easily comparable with global standards,” says Michael Dance, General Manager of New Zealand Riverland Foods.

“Having a qualification like SQF in place gives customers greater clarity on the level we operate at and allows us to be compared against other global manufacturers,” he adds, noting that customers are increasingly prioritizing strong corporate responsibility practices, including ethical operations, sourcing and packaging.

B Corp certifications

Pet players have recently obtained B Corp certification, becoming part of a global network of more than 9,700 businesses recognized for strong social and environmental performance, as well as high standards of accountability and transparency.

Petlove

Brazilian pet retailer Petlove has become the first pet company in the country to receive the certification in April, achieving an overall assessment score of 91.6. 

The certification follows a R$22 million ($4.4M/€4M) investment in socio-environmental initiatives, focused on operational efficiency, packaging, renewable energy and governance. These efforts include sustainability partnerships, employee remuneration programs and increased gender diversity in leadership.

“More than just a seal, it reflects the care we strive to have for people, pets and the impact we create as a company. It also shows that we are evolving in the way we do business, as responsibility, transparency and impact are priorities within our company,” says Talita Lacerda, CEO of Petlove.

Intersand

Canadian cat litter manufacturer Intersand was certified in March with an assessment score of 103.3. According to the company, the certification was supported by a combination of innovative manufacturing processes based on patented technologies and its ability to develop products that require fewer resources. 

It also reflects its environmental initiatives, backed by a life cycle assessment performed in 2024, a carbon footprint analysis in 2023, and independent audits and third-party inspections.

Founded in 1992, the Quebec-based family-owned company operates 5 production facilities across Canada and the US, exports its cat litter products to more than 60 countries, and runs its own research and development center focused on pet hygiene innovation.