Sustainability Life Cycle Analysis, a Possibility Towards Sustainability

4+ MIN

Life Cycle Analysis, a Possibility Towards Sustainability

By María Candelaria Carbajo

Sustainability Plastic and Pet Food: Achieving Sustainability

5+ MIN

Plastic and Pet Food: Achieving Sustainability

By Juan Gómez Basauri, Ph.D.


Latest Sustainability contents

APC Earns Bronze Badge in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating 2025
Sustainability

2+ MIN

APC Earns Bronze Badge in the EcoVadis Sustainability Rating 2025

The EcoVadis assessment provides a comprehensive view of policies and practices across the categories of Environment, Ethics, Labor & Human Rights, and Sustainable Procurement. With over 185 participating countries, more than 2.8 million companies evaluated, and over 150,000 companies ranked, EcoVadis is a key global benchmark for corporate sustainability performance. In 2025, APC do Brasil stood out in the Environment category, thanks to its commitment to sustainability policies aimed at reducing emissions, optimizing resource use, and contributing to a more sustainable planet.   'This achievement and recognition demonstrates our commitment to sustainability in the global animal nutrition industry. We continue to move forward with our ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our operations around the world', says Dave Dirks, Chief Operating Officer of APC.   Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT) Program   As part of its sustainability initiatives, APC also announces its achievement of Scope 1, 2, and 3 badges from the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT) program for greenhouse gas emissions management. The Supplier LOCT program is a global initiative that supports suppliers in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing science-based targets for a more sustainable future.   The Supplier LOCT program provides resources and expertise to help suppliers measure their greenhouse gas emissions, set reduction targets, and implement effective strategies. Through this initiative, APC aims to enhance its ability to manage and report its carbon footprint across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, promoting a sustainable future for its operations and supply chain.   'Joining the Supplier LOCT Program is a natural extension of our commitment to sustainability. As a company that prioritizes environmental responsibility, we are excited to collaborate with other industry leaders to reduce emissions, optimize resource use, and contribute to a healthier planet. Our participation will allow us to take concrete actions to further advance our sustainability goals' says Dave Dirks, Chief Operating Officer of APC.   APC is also committed to promoting sustainability throughout its supply chain by integrating sustainable sourcing and production practices, as well as product and operations management. The company continues to innovate and reduce its environmental footprint while delivering high-quality functional protein ingredients derived from blood to improve animal health and nutrition. Achieving Scope 1, 2, and 3 certifications reflects APC's leadership in environmental management and its commitment to building a sustainable future for the animal nutrition industry.   For more information about APC's sustainability efforts, visit: https://apcproteins.com/br/sustentabilidade
For more information on EcoVadis, visit: https://ecovadis.com/pt/
For more information on the Supplier LOCT program, visit: https://supplierloct.com   Source: APC

Food, Defecation and Environment: A Glance to Improve the Impact (Part 2)
Sustainability

9+ MIN

Food, Defecation and Environment: A Glance to Improve the Impact (Part 2)

Life Cycle Analysis in Dog and Cat Ownership and the Defecation Production     As we mentioned in the article in the last issue, we provide further information about this tool, which has become an interdisciplinary research field with great potential for scientific and technological production. The Brazilian LCA has been spread in the academic area, industries, and the government, which supports the green label program and the Environmental Product Declaration. In Brazil, among the studies applying the Life Cycle Analysis are those on agriculture, livestock, and product development (Souza et al. 2017).
  Even though in Brazil there has been increasing research about LCA use and its implementation in companies during the last few years, there is still a big field of study and opportunities to be explored. For example, regional environmental impacts related to dogs and cats' environmental footprints and their effects have not been analyzed with this approach.
  Costa et al. (2024) used the LCA to evaluate dry food impact in Brazil considering the following stages: food manufacturing, packaging production, and product distribution (from the industry to the sales process). They found that food formulation provides almost 70% of the available impact (Figure 2), which mainly contributed to the impact of soil and marine eutrophication, acidification, particulate material, and climate change —that represents 80% of the total environmental impact of raw material selection (Figure 3). LCA activities involving product consumption were not studied.
  Figure 2: Contribution (percentage) of each stage in pet food manufacturing and environmental impacts. Published by Costa et al. (2024).
  Figure 3: Contribution of the raw materials selection impact category. Published by Costa et al. (2024).
  Only one European study investigated the shelf-life end of pet waste from the LCA perspective. Yavor et al. (2020) analyzed three points of view (Figure 4) and discovered that the urine and feces of an average dog have a potential climate change and freshwater eutrophication of 8,200 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent and 5 kg of phosphorus equivalent respectively. For 13 years, urine (≅ 44%) and feces (≅ 43%) have mainly contributed to freshwater eutrophication (caused by phosphorus contained in feces) and significantly in ecotoxicity (≅50%). 
  The produced waste is just a factor in the food use stage and does not define sustainability in pet ownership. Generally, diet effects exceed the other stages. However, quantifying the flows of this substage adequately can complement the existing regional information and identify possibilities or technologies for the environmental footprint cycle of dogs and cats, especially nitrogenated waste and potentially toxic nutrients in feces and urine.
  Figure 4. Dogs' defecation system to the shelf-life end of waste. Published by Yavor et al. (2020).
  Advantages and Challenges of the LCA   Life Cycle Analysis is a methodology used to evaluate products and services environmental impact, from manufacturing to elimination. It is useful since it analyzes all the stages in the product life cycle integrally. This approach comprises systems at different levels and regions throughout flow evaluation, which enter and leave the system. Its results can combine other methodologies to better define system sustainability; it can be used in complex environmental analysis for objective decision-making and to formulate plans that satisfy sustainable development needs.
  Using the LCA has the potential to: Identify critical points and the impacts of a process, product, or service. Enhance or develop products and services. Optimize mechanical systems and energy recovery.  Compare equivalent products. Define criteria for ecological labels. Support the creation of politics of sustainability.  Provide clear information to consumers. Manage and preserve natural resources.
  These characteristics can be extremely interesting to characterize dog and cat waste, towards sustainability. However, here are some challenges and limitations to consider: The number of people and experienced professionals using this methodology is still minimal. 
  There are no accurate and solid regional inventories about the product's life cycle, especially in Brazil. Databases are essential to save time and resources in LCA study. 
  This shortage is a problem as Brazil has diverse production, agriculture practices, weather, and technology. Using a specific database from Brazil would help to carry out accurate and adequate research for more sustainable production. Another challenge is to follow general rules for product characterization, such as Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (FEDIAF, 2018) that ensure standardized studies and suitable results.
  Final Thoughts   So far, impacts generated by pet ownership have not been defined in Brazil. The LCA focus can help to characterize them, predict harmful effects, minimize the short/long-term impact, and reach global and sustainable goals. However, the scientific data on cat and dog ownership used by this approach is still lacking. 
  Defecation and its accumulative effects are related to pet ownership, being a substage in food usage which also must be studied for its environmental impact. Understanding the impact helps evaluate pet possession in an integrated way. Brazil has unique characteristics and highlights the importance of studying and characterizing local impacts. Research can offer new insights as well as improve awareness and promote pro-environmental behavior in society and industries, helping the environment and sustainability in dog and cat ownership, such important species for human beings.
  References ABINPET. PET Mercado Brasil (2024). Asociación Brasileña de la Industria de Productos para Mascotas. www.abinpet.org.br/. Fecha de consulta: 05 de agosto de 2024. ABNT (Asociación Brasileña de Normas Técnicas), 2009a. NBR ISO 14040: Gestión Ambiental - Análisis de Ciclo de Vida - Principios y estructura. Río de Janeiro. ABNT (Asociación Brasileña de Normas Técnicas), 2009b. NBR ISO 14044: Gestión Ambiental - Análisis de Ciclo de Vida - Requisitos y directrices. Río de Janeiro. ABREMA. Panorama de los residuos sólidos en Brasil 2023 (2023). Disponible en: https://abrelpe.org.br/panorama-2020/. Fecha de consulta: 10 de agosto de 2024. Cinquepalmi, V.; Monno, R.; Fumarola, L.; Ventrella, G.; Calia, C.; Greco, M. F.; De Vito, D.; Soleo, L. (2013). Contaminación ambiental por heces de perro: ¿un problema de salud pública? Revista Internacional de Investigación Ambiental y Salud Pública, 10(1), 72–84. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph10010072 Costa, J. L. G.; Bánkuti, F. I.; Oiko, O. T.; Monti, M.; Loureiro, B. A.; Henríquez, L. B. F.; Florindo, T. J.; Vasconcellos, R. S. (2024). Análisis de ciclo de vida de la producción de un alimento extruido para perros en Brasil. Revista de Producción Más Limpia, 458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142505 FEDIAF (2021a). Federación Europea de la Industria de Alimentos para Animales de Compañía. FEDIAF Guías Nutricionales para Alimentos Completos y Complementarios para Perros y Gatos. 98 págs. FEDIAF (2018b). Reglas de Categoría de Huella Ambiental de Productos (PELCR): Alimento preparado para perros y gatos. FEDIAF, Bruselas. Hobbie S. E.; Finlay, J.C.; Janke, B. D.; Nidzgorski, D. A.; Mijo D. B; Baker, L. A. Contraste de los presupuestos de nitrógeno y fósforo en las cuencas urbanas y las implicaciones para la gestión de la contaminación del agua urbana. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2017). 18 de abril; 114(16):4177-4182. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1618536114. Epub 3 de abril de 2017. Fe de erratas en: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 16 de mayo de 2017; 114(20):E4116. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1706049114. PMID: 28373560; PMCID: PMC5402417. Li, P.; Wu, G. (2024). Características de la nutrición y el metabolismo en perros y gatos. En Avances en Medicina Experimental y Biología (Vol. 1446, p. 55-98). Salmer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54192-6_4 Li, Z.-M., & Kannan, K. (2024). Excreción urinaria y fecal de 121 sustancias químicas ambientales en perros y gatos: importancia de las heces en el biocontrol de las exposiciones. Macdonald, M. L.; Rogers, Q.; Rmorris, J. G (1984). Nutrición del gato doméstico, un mamífero carnívoro. Revista anual de nutrición, v. 4, n. 1, p. 521-562. Martínez-Sabater, E.; García-Muñoz, M.; Bonete, P.; Rodríguez, M.; Sánchez-García, F. B.; Pérez-Murcia, M. D.; Bustamante, M. A.; López-Lluch, D. B.; Moraleja, R. (2019). Manejo integral de las heces de perro: Compostaje versus digestión anaeróbica. Revista de Gestión Ambiental, 250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109437 Morris, J. G (2002). Los requerimientos idiosincrásicos de nutrientes de los gatos parecen ser adaptaciones evolutivas inducidas por la dieta. Revistas de investigación en nutrición, v. 15, n. 1, p. 153-168. NRC. Consejo Nacional de Investigación. Requerimientos de nutrientes de perros y gatos.Washington, DC: Nacional Academias Prensa 2006. 424 págs. Disponible en: <https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-andcats\>.  Consultado: 02 Agosto. 2024. Okin, G. S. Impactos ambientales del consumo de alimentos por perros y gatos. PLOS UNO, v. 12, n. 8, p. E0181301, 2017. ONU. Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas. Transformar nuestro mundo: la agenda 2030 para el desarrollo sostenible. (2015). Disponible en: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda. Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente ( Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente (2024). Resumen ejecutivo Perspectivas mundiales de la gestión de residuos 2024: Más allá de la era de los residuos. Convertir la basura en un recurso. Nairobi. https:// wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/44992 Rezende, V. T.; Rodrigues, G. R. D.; Boaventura, J. F.; Alves, L. K. S., Zanini, L. D., Nacimento, R. A.; Gameiro, A. H. (2022). Aproximación preliminar a la carga ambiental generada por dietas de humanos, animales de producción y mascotas a partir del análisis de flujos de nitrógeno y fósforo. Nuevos retos de la investigación en nutrición y producción animal. Ritchie, H.; Roser, M. Impactos ambientales de la producción de alimentos (2020). Disponible en: <https://ourworldindata.org/environmental-impacts-of-food>. Fecha de acceso: 25 jul. 2024 Rousseau, M.; Guénard, F.; Garneau, V.; Allam-ndoul, B.; Lemieux, S.; Pérusse, L.; Vohl, M.C (2019). Asociaciones entre las fuentes de proteínas dietéticas, los BCAA plasmáticos y los niveles de acilcarnitina de cadena corta en adultos. Nutrientes, v. 11, n. 1, p. 173-189. SEEG. Sistema de estimación de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero, 2022. Desafíos y oportunidades para la reducción de emisiones de metano en Brasil. Disponible en: https://plataforma.seeg.eco.br. Fecha de consulta: 11 de agosto de 2024. Singh, P.; Banton, S.; Bosch, G.; Hendriks, W. H.; Shoveller, A. K. (2024). Más allá del tazón: comprensión de los requisitos de aminoácidos y la digestibilidad para mejorar las métricas de calidad de las proteínas para alimentos para perros y gatos. En Avances en Medicina Experimental y Biología (Vol. 1446, p. 99-134). Salmer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-54192-6_5 Souza, C. G., Barbastefano, R. G., & Teixeira, R. C. (2017). Investigación en análisis de ciclo de vida en Brasil: características, interdisciplinaricalidad y aplicaciones. Revista Internacional de Evaluación del Ciclo de Vida, 22(2), 266–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-016-1150-5 Su, B.; Martens, P. Impactos ambientales del consumo de alimentos por perros de compañía y gatos en Japón. Indicadores Ecológicos, v. 93, p. 1043–1049, 2018. Disponible en: <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.06.015>. Swanson, K. S.; Carter, R. A.; Yount., T. P.; Preston, J. A.; Buff, R. (2013). Sostenibilidad nutricional de los alimentos para mascotas. Avances en Nutrición, 4: 141-150. https://doi.org/10.3945/an.112.003335. Yavor, K. M.; Lehmann, A.; Finkbeiner, M. (2020). Impactos ambientales de un perro de compañía: un estudio de caso de ACV. Sostenibilidad (Suiza), 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/SU1208339     By Jéssyka Laura Galdino Costa, Ricardo Souza Vasconcellos (Universidad Estatal de Maringá - Brazil), Fernando José González González (Universidad de la Salle - Colombia) Source: All Pet Food Magazine

Biorigin's Annual Report Highlights Positive Impact in Sustainability Actions and One Health Practices
Sustainability

3+ MIN

Biorigin's Annual Report Highlights Positive Impact in Sustainability Actions and One Health Practices

It believes in "One Health", which is based on the principle that an integrated and unified vision is necessary to promote and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment.   For example, it is essential to take care of the health and hygiene of animals and the environment, offering a nutritionally complete and balanced diet to animals, helping to prevent diseases and strengthen the immune system and intestinal health, among other important practices to ensure nutrition, health, and well-being.   Therefore, since we share the same ecosystem, the Brazilian company reinforces its objective of practicing sustainability actions that ensure the connection between animal, human, and environmental health.   "Owners are increasingly attentive to the needs of their dogs and cats and look for foods that contain high-quality, functional, and sustainable ingredients, factors that make a difference when choosing food for their pets. At Biorigin, we pride ourselves on developing naturally derived solutions, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast derivatives, which offer proven benefits for animal health and meet trends such as humanization, premiumization, and specific nutrition. With over 20 years of experience, we guarantee quality, full traceability, and sustainability, combining innovation and animal welfare. Our technical team is driven by the mission of promoting health and functionality, creating foods that reflect this commitment to increasingly demanding pet owners and aligned with the global demands of the pet market", shares Thaila Cristina Putarov, Global Business Manager for Nutrition and Animal Health at Biorigin.   To reinforce its commitment to transparency and socio-environmental responsibility, Biorigin published its Annual Sustainability Report, highlighting the 2023/2024 harvest. The document presents data on Zilor and Biorigin's initiatives from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.   Check out the main highlights: Biorigin's biogenic carbon emissions were 14 times greater than its non-biogenic carbon emissions. To learn more about Biorigin's carbon-neutral cycle, click here [LA1] . For the eighth consecutive year, Biorigin was recognized with the Gold Seal in the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program [LA2] for disclosing the inventory of Scope 1 and 2 emissions, verified by a third party by ISO 14064-3:2007 (SGS). 100% of the electricity used by Biorigin comes from renewable sources, as does 100% of the steam used in operations at the Quatá Unit and 97% globally (Biorigin Global). 25% of the waste generated is destined for recycling and reuse, and 15% of the water used in our production process is reused. Launch of the Biorigin +Sustentável 2030 Program to mobilize knowledge, innovation, and technology to promote, in a sustainable way, health and well-being for people and animals.
  The excellence of the work developed by Biorigin is proven by the certifications obtained and revalidated over the years, reinforcing its commitment to quality and sustainability:     In addition to sustainability initiatives, Biorigin shares some institutional information: It currently has 468 employees, of which 32% are women; Women hold 40% of Biorigin's leadership positions (coordinators and managers), and 23% of operational leadership is also female; It has approximately 454 active suppliers and partnerships with 44 universities, research institutes, and laboratories in Brazil, in addition to 22 abroad; 90% of production is destined for more than 60 countries, serving markets in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia; There were no deaths, serious accidents, or accidents with mandatory reporting, achieving a zero rate in all these categories; An investment of R$ 70 million was approved in the Quatá unit to increase its global presence and production capacity.   To access Biorigin's 2023/2024 Annual Sustainability Report, click here [LA3]!   BIORIGIN With over 20 years of experience, Biorigin is a leader in natural ingredients and meets the demands of the pet food market, providing solutions that help improve intestinal health, pets' immunity, and food attractiveness. Click here [LA4] to learn more about the company and its products.   Source: Biorigin   References [LA1] https://biorigin.net/en/carbon-neutral-cycle-discover-biorigins-sustainable-initiative/ [LA2] https://biorigin.net/en/biorigin-maintains-the-gold-seal-in-the-ghg-protocol-for-the-eighth-consecutive-year/ [LA3] https://www.zilor.com.br/en/relationship-with-investors/corporate-governance/sustainability-report/ [LA4] https://biorigin.net/en/pet-section/  

Sustainability, Transparency Shaping Future of Dog Chews & Treats
Sustainability

5+ MIN

Sustainability, Transparency Shaping Future of Dog Chews & Treats

The evolving preferences of today's pet parents have placed significant focus on environmentally responsible and healthconscious products. As a result, dog treat and chew manufacturers are doubling down on clean ingredients, ethical sourcing, ecofriendly packaging and retailer education. Industry leaders believe this shift is not just a passing trend but rather a long-term evolution in the pet sector, as consumers demand both functional benefits and transparency.
  "Over recent years, we've seen a transformative shift in consumer behavior," says Phoebe Cooper, marketing manager for Natural Farm. "As individuals prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing in their everyday lives, this focus has naturally extended to their pets. Pet parents are becoming more intentional about what they buy, ensuring their furry family members enjoy treats and chews that align with their values. This growing demand is driving innovation across the industry, and sourcing transparency and sustainability are becoming non-negotiables."
  CLEAN, FUNCTIONAL & INNOVATION INGREDIENTS
The push for healthier ingredients is driving product innovation across the board. Pet owners are more informed than ever, scrutinizing labels for ingredients that deliver functional benefits while avoiding additives, fillers or allergens. To that end, the onus is on manufacturers to ensure they're keeping up with pet parents' preferences.
  "Healthy Dog Chews is always exploring innovative ingredients to meet the evolving needs of pets and their owners," says John Parrottino, owner and partner at Krijon, parent company of Healthy Dog Chews. "Recently, we've introduced yak cheese chews fortified with superfoods like turmeric, pumpkin and flax seed, which have natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits."
  Functional ingredients, such as superfoods, are also becoming an industry standard, delivering health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. For dogs with specific dietary sensitivities, manufacturers are also expanding their protein offerings to meet demand. For example, dairy-based chews are gaining traction. With naturally high protein and calcium content, cheese and yogurt chews provide nutritional benefits while remaining highly palatable for pets.
  "Our cheese- and yogurt-based chews naturally incorporate functional benefits—they are rich in protein and calcium to support strong bones, healthy teeth and muscle development," says Nate Kredich, president of Himalayan Pet Supply. "We continue to research and explore other functional ingredients to help bolster the health benefits of our core products."
  Kredich also notes that he's seen success with Himalayan's Yogurt Stick line, a product that reflects growing consumer interest in gut health and probiotics.   "We have always focused on using the fewest ingredients possible while also delivering the most benefit to our pets," Kredich says. "For instance, we recently expanded our popular line of Yogurt Sticks with new flavor combinations while ensuring that the chews continue to provide gut health benefits with over 300 million CFUs (colony-forming units) of probiotics, as well as prebiotics."
  As pet parents prioritize health and wellness, brands are responding with simple, clean formulations and functional enhancements that serve their dogs' needs while aligning with their values.
  REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Eco-friendly packaging is another major focus for manufacturers seeking to meet consumer expectations for sustainability. Pet parents not only want clean products for their dogs, but also environmentally responsible solutions that minimize waste and carbon footprints.
  "We are currently adopting a bulk product sales model that is eco-friendly and reduces the amount of plastic used," Parrottino says. "Many of our customers create well-designed 'raw bars.' In the future, as we brand our products, we will be using small tags that are recyclable."
  This approach serves two purposes: Reducing plastic usage and creating a visually appealing in-store experience that allows customers to interact more directly with the products.
  "Packaging innovation plays a vital role in reducing our environmental footprint. At Natural Farm, we've adopted certified I'm Green bio-based plastics for our pouch products," says Cooper. "These are made from sugarcane ethanol, a renewable resource, reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel-based plastics. Additionally, many of our packages incorporate at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled materials, using recycled PET resin to support a circular economy. These steps ensure that we're reducing waste while setting a higher standard in the pet industry."
  For companies like Natural Farm, packaging innovation is part of a broader commitment to sustainability. By combining renewable materials with recycled content, they're creating a model for reducing environmental impact without sacrificing product quality or presentation.
  RETAILER EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT
With consumers placing higher importance on transparency, manufacturers are working closely with retailers to ensure they have the knowledge and tools to communicate these values effectively to shoppers.
  "Retailer education starts with partnerships," Cooper says.
  "We work closely with our retail partners, providing them with detailed resources about our sustainable practices and ethical sourcing. This includes transparent information on our supply chain, the benefits of our packaging innovations and insights into the value of choosing products made with integrity. Through in-depth training materials and ongoing support, we empower retailers to feel confident in promoting Natural Farm products."
  Retailers are also reimagining their in-store displays to create experiences that align with consumers' sustainability expectations while driving product engagement, as Parrottino notes that Krijon's customers, "typically get creative with treat bar formats to match the store's look and feel."
  To that end, Himalayan Pet Supply is taking this approach a step further with its new bulk display format.
  "We developed the new bulk display to enhance the in-store experience and encourage pet parents to touch and experience the product without the barrier of the packaging; it is both visually appealing and environmentally friendly since we eliminated the standard plastic packaging," Kredich says. "The unpackaged chews have a color-coded hang tag that makes it easier for shoppers to select the right chew for their dog."
  By offering bulk displays and interactive experiences, retailers can encourage shoppers to make sustainable choices while creating a more engaging and personalized shopping experience.
  Looking ahead, leaders in the pet industry believe sustainability will continue to drive innovation. From product ingredients to packaging and retailer education, ethical practices are no longer a niche consideration but a core expectation.
  "The future is bright for sustainable innovation and ethical standards," according to Cooper, who projects more demand for eco offerings. "We foresee a continued focus on reducing environmental impact, whether through ingredient sourcing, manufacturing efficiencies, or cutting-edge packaging solutions. Consumer expectations will also push companies to adopt even higher standards of transparency, ethicality and traceability."
  For manufacturers and retailers, the message is clear: Consumers want products that reflect their values, and they are willing to invest in brands that prioritize health, transparency and environmental stewardship. As innovation continues to reshape the market, companies that align with these priorities will set the pace for the industry's sustainable future.


By Kelly Lindenau
  Source: Pet Business

Food, Defecation, and Environment: A Glance to Improve the Impact (Part 1)
Sustainability

4+ MIN

Food, Defecation, and Environment: A Glance to Improve the Impact (Part 1)

Pet feces transmit bacterial and parasitic diseases (Cinquepalmi et al. 2013), but there has been little discussion about its impact. With the emerging focus on sustainability to meet the 2030 calendar and the SDL (ONU, 2015), this aspect can be widely considered.
Although there are programs that promote the collection of pet feces in public areas and alternatives to manage this kind of waste, such as composting and anaerobic digestion (Martínez-Sabater et al. 2019), we still do not know its impact, especially those managed in Brazilian homes.
This waste significantly contributes to the environmental fingerprint for pet ownership since nitrogenated waste from defecation —in great numbers and non-neutralized— can be toxic to the environment (Hobbie et al. 2017). 
Social media and local governments know this waste harms the environment, but there is not enough scientific data about its real impact. It is necessary to use appropriate research tools to correctly understand its flows and emissions to find the best way to manage and reduce the effects of dog and cat defecation.
Dog/Cat Defecations and Sustainability: Their Relationship
Sustainability involves environmental, social, and economic aspects that ensure resources are available for future generations.
In Brazil, pet feces are commonly thrown away in the sewage system or in the garbage to be collected by governmental programs or leave them in the open air where they decompose. 
Water waste is usually treated to reduce pollutant loads of waste; however, feces in the garbage, outdoors, or collected by local governmental programs increase the amount of organic solid urban waste (SUW) that ends up in landfills and is the main responsible for methane emissions.
The aforementioned information means a challenge. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals Estimates (SEEG in Portuguese) include the following goals in their 2030 calendar: reduce almost 14% of organic waste in landfills, recover 50% of methane generated in these landfills, and improve the recovery of animal waste methane (SEEG, 2022).
In 2023, 2,300 million tons of SUW were generated globally; by 2050, this number will reach 3,800 tons (PNUMA, 2024). Managing this waste cost 252,000-361,000 million dollars in 2020 (Figure 1). In Brazil, around 77,1 million tons of SUW were generated in 2020, with estimated costs of R$ 29,2 billion (ABREMA, 2023). That indicates that the generation of solid urban waste affects the environment, society, and the economy. 
In Brazil, almost 50% of SUW is organic waste from pets though the concrete amount is not clear. Documenting these numbers and potential emissions can help to enhance the management of waste and reduce the impact and costs, contributing to the SDLs.   
Figure 1: SUW generation in Brazil (2022). Published by ABREMA (2023).
Pet waste and sustainability are also related to the amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). These waste and nutrients highly risk most species living on this planet since they are non-neutralized and appear in great amounts. Related to nitrogen, it can raise pollutant gases in the air, reduce vegetal digestion, and pollute urban water. On the other hand, P is essential for animal nutrition and can contaminate fresh water, which is increasingly rare (Rezende et al. 2022).
Due to nutritional and physiological aspects, pets, mainly cats and dogs, can release large amounts of N and P to the environment (Ritchie & Roser, 2020). Dogs are facultative carnivore animals, and cats are obligatory carnivores, which need a diet rich in total and animal proteins (NRC, 2006; Rousseau et al. 2019; FEDIAF, 2021) and, at the same time, have high excretion of nitrogen waste.
As consumers purchase according to the protein level on the label, without knowing pets' nutritional protein and amino acid (AA) needs (Singh et al. 2024), pet food industries commonly formulate food with high-protein levels and with high-quality ingredients that compete with human nutrition (Swanson et al. 2013; Okin, 2017; Su and Martens et al. 2018).
High ingestion of proteins in dogs and cats promotes high AA oxidation to eliminate excess. On the other hand, maintaining body condition score in adult dogs and cats depends on the non-restriction of proteins in food practices (Li and Wu, 2024). In addition, pet fecal and urinary excretion can contain other waste, such as plasticizers (Li and Kannan, 2024), but their effect on the environment and human health are not known. 
These factors show the relationship between pet waste and sustainability, highlighting the importance of studying this topic in Brazil. The appropriate characterization of feces and urine impact is a way to cooperate with strategies aimed at mitigating the problem and maintaining the future sustainability of agriculture. 
In the second part of this article, we will provide information about the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a useful approach to analyze how products and processes impact the environment which includes pet waste production in Brazil, standardizing these processes to help sustainable decision-making.   By: Jéssyka Laura Galdino Costa, Ricardo Souza Vasconcellos (Universidad Estatal de Maringá - Brasil), Fernando José González González (Universidad de la Salle - Colombia).   Source: All Pet Food Magazine      

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