The Use of Sustainable Micro-ingredients

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. Using sustainable micro-ingredients in pet food is becoming increasingly important, especially when concerns about environmental impact, plastic waste, and global sustainability gain relevance. In this way, micro-ingredients refer to small quantities of nutritional components that improve pet health, e.g., vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids, and other bioactive additives.

Trace minerals are essential for pets and are required in small quantities. The sources of these nutrients vary in bioavailability, which means that less bioavailable sources (inorganic minerals) are more excreted in feces than those with more bioavailability (organic minerals). Moreover, some organic sources are in chelated amino acids, such as HMTBa (methionine hydroxy analog); besides providing copper, zinc, or manganese value, it will have an HMTBa value, which makes it a 100% usable ingredient with little or no excretion of metal or any other component into the environment.

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Here are some key ideas about how sustainable ingredients influence pet food:

Replace Traditional Ingredients with Sustainable Sources

Traditional ingredients in pet food, like animal proteins, have a significant environmental burden, so manufacturers are choosing more sustainable sources, such as insects, algae, or plants (such as pea plants, quinoa, or brown rice) proteins since they have less environmental impact in terms of soil, water, and CO2.

There are micro-ingredients obtained from sustainable sources that also improve pet nutrition, for example:

• Insect proteins: They are a source rich in essential amino acids and fatty acids, which require fewer resources to be produced in traditional animal meat.
• DHA marine algae origin: They are a natural source of DHA omega 3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients and have a low carbon footprint.
• Vitamins and synthetic amino acids: Its production meets environmental regulations and reduces (in a small percentage) the carbon footprint of pet food.
• Chelated minerals: Trace minerals can be combined with amino acids and other compounds to make chelated, which improves absorption and bioavailability in the companion animal digestive systems.

Incorporating these micro-ingredients is more sustainable and offers nutritional benefits, for example a better balance in pet diets.

Recycling Technologies for Ingredients

In the plastic era, in which recycling and reusing are essential, pet food companies are experimenting with recycled ingredients and technologies that allow the recovery and reusing of human feed by-products. This reduces the need to remove new resources and minimize waste.

•  Agriculture by-products: Some pet food ingredients come from the agricultural by-products industry, such as fruit and vegetable peels, which are rich in fibers and antioxidants.

Challenges of Plastic and Packaging

Pet food packaging plays a vital role in preserving food, especially micro-ingredients. Usually, it implies the use of non-biodegradable plastics. However, the industry is evolving in terms of research and development of sustainable packaging.

• Biodegradable or compostable plastics: Many manufacturers choose environmentally friendly packaging, i.e., those made of compostable or biodegradable materials, such as corn starch and bioplastics obtained from plants.
• Plastic reduction in packaging: A growing trend is to reduce plastics in packaging by using recycled packaging or facilitating its recycling.

Transparency in the Supply Chain

As the demand for sustainable products grows, so too the need for transparency in the supply chain. Consumers seek brands that offer clear information about the origin and manufacturing of ingredients.

Environmental certification and ingredient traceability are increasingly more common, allowing consumers to make informed decisions about their pet products. This is not only about ingredients but also the environmental impact of manufacturing and packaging.

Benefits in Animal Health

Using sustainable micro-ingredients can also benefit pet and human health. Ingredients rich in vitamins, trace minerals, antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential nutrients can enhance their quality of life while reducing the ecological impact.

Innovation and Regulation

As advancements in food science and biotechnology continue, micro-ingredients from alternative biological sources can be at the vanguard of industry change. It also means regulatory challenges regarding security, labeling, and approval of new ingredients in the international market.

Conclusion

Using sustainable micro-ingredients in the pet food industry is an excellent way to reduce the environmental impact, especially in a world full of plastic and ecological concerns. Companies are incorporating technological innovations and more responsible ingredients to offer more nutritious and environmentally friendly products. However, this change requires a continuous commitment to research, development, and transparency in each stage of the manufacturing process.

This approach addresses consumers' growing demand for sustainable products. It is also an opportunity for pet food brands to play an important role in the global environmental struggle.

By MVZ Armando Enriquez de la Fuente Blanquet

Source: All Pet Food