In 2025, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in the pet industry; it’s becoming an urgent call to action. Pet companies are finding creative and concrete ways to shrink their carbon footprints while catering to pet owners’ shifting values.
Royal Canin’s Bold Carbon Neutral Pledge: The Gold Standard in Action The global pet food giant Royal Canin stunned the industry with its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2025, using the rigorous PAS 2060 standard. Their approach is more than lip service — they are transitioning to renewable power, sourcing sustainable ingredients, cutting waste, and embedding climate goals into executive pay. When emissions can’t be fully eliminated, they will offset them with high-quality, certified carbon credits.
Loic Moutault, Royal Canin’s president, puts it clearly: this is about science driving action to tangibly improve our pets’ world and the planet simultaneously. Fabrice Mathieu, the firm’s Global Sustainability Director, acknowledged the tough path ahead but emphasized their strong dedication to reducing footprints by partnering worldwide.
Upcycling Agricultural Byproducts: Mars Petcare’s Innovation Challenge Not to be outdone, Mars Petcare launched an initiative in partnership with EIT Food to transform agricultural leftovers into nutritious pet food ingredients. Over 50 applicants vied for the opportunity to prove concepts turning fiber-rich waste materials into digestible proteins and sugars for pets.
Two winners emerged: BioscienZ, which uses microorganisms to convert fibrous raw materials for liquid pet food, and Cremer Sustainable Nutrition, refining plant fibers’ taste and digestibility via solid-state fermentation. This collaboration marries age-old techniques with breakthroughs — a recipe for sustainability-driven innovation.
Industry’s Collective Voice: AFIA’s Policy Push for Progress The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) took its sustainability aspirations to the policy arena, advocating before Congress for regulatory improvements, access to more animal food solutions, and a fair business environment. Their agenda tackles long-standing challenges, ensuring manufacturers can innovate safely and competitively, a critical base for any sustainability progress.
Research and Education: IFEEDER Strengthens Sustainability Focus The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER) reported expanding its sustainability resources and research capacity. They plan to deepen education on pet food sustainability, enhance data transparency, and broaden partnerships. This marks a shift toward continuous knowledge-building and collaboration in sustainability goals.
Trends Driving Change: Humanization Meets Eco-consciousness Pet owners increasingly treat pets like family, demanding both premium nutrition and responsible sourcing. Market research shows interest especially among younger consumers for sustainably made pet food, reflecting broader ethical consumption habits.
However, some trends like feeding pets human-grade meat cuts could reduce upcycling opportunities. Still, novel approaches like lab-grown pet food and plant-based alternatives are developing, hinting at an evolving balance between indulgence and environmental impact.
Putting It All Together: What This Means for the Pet Market The pet care industry is at a pivotal moment where ecological responsibility and business growth are intertwined. Companies are not just reacting; they are proactively innovating—from product development to policy advocacy and rigorous sustainability commitments.
Consumers, too, play a role by choosing brands leading with environmental mindfulness, which in turn pressures others to follow suit. This symbiotic push for change promises to redefine what it means to care for pets in a planet-conscious era.
In short, 2025 is shaping up as the year pet companies go beyond the tail wag to serious sustainability strides—turning high hopes into measurable impact.
References:
- https://www.petfoodindustry.com/pet-food-market/article/15747195/poll-how-is-your-pet-food-business-navigating-2025s-economic-challenges
- https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2025/05/30/trend-watch-whats-the-future-of-pet-food/
- https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/19303-afia-shares-priorities-to-advance-animal-food-industry
- https://globalpetindustry.com/news/royal-canin-carbon-neutral-2025/
- https://trademagazin.hu/en/mindent-a-hazi-kedvencnek-euromonitor-international-2025/
- https://mn.gov/tourism-industry/resources/industry-news/industry-news-past-editions.jsp
- https://www.petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/news/15747320/ifeeder-outlines-pet-food-research-sustainability-goals-at-annual-board-meeting
- https://news.ppg.com/press-releases/default.aspx
