The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) released a case study that evaluates the carbon footprint of pet food ingredients in partnership with German pet food company Josera. Comparing two different formulas, PSC was able to determine the comparative carbon footprints of a lamb and rice formula versus Insect Dog, which uses insect protein supplied by Protix as its main ingredient. Not only did this data illuminate the comparative carbon footprint of two products, but it also compares carbon footprints for each ingredient, providing the potential for additional formulas aimed at reaching the lowest carbon footprint possible while maintaining nutritional performance.
The carbon footprint project is one of many sustainability initiatives at Josera, but the data had been difficult to capture before partnering with PSC. “At Josera we see it as our responsibility to protect the planet,” said Klaus Wagner, CEO of Josera, in a press release. “PSC has helped us navigate what can be a difficult pathway to address our carbon footprint.”
Pet food companies addressing climate change
PSC used a streamline LCA process relying on benchmark data from global LCA databases. This project was one of several case studies underway as part of PSC’s recent expansion that allows European pet companies to join their nonprofit coalition. The Josera case study will sit alongside other case studies in the PSC Toolkit featuring a variety of sustainable business topics like employee engagement, sustainable packaging, strategic implementation, and supply chain engagement from member companies like I and Love and You, Worldwise, MOM’s Organic Market, Kinn Inc. and Zuke’s.
“Global climate change is a huge impact area that can feel unattainable for businesses to solve,” said Caitlyn Dudas, executive director of Pet Sustainability Coalition. “Josera’s leadership paves the way for others to leverage their business toward low carbon solutions that will make the world livable for people and pets in the future.”
Josera case study at Interzoo 2018
Interzoo 2018, the world’s largest pet trade show, focused on sustainability. As part of that focus, Josera and Protix, a supplier of insect protein based in the Netherlands, presented the new case study at the event. The study compares the carbon footprint of Josera’s lamb and rice dog food to one it produced using Protix’s insect protein. According to the study, the Insect Dog product has a carbon footprint (including agricultural production and transport from farm to Josera’s plant) of only 18 percent of the lamb diet.
Tarique Arsiwalla, founder of Protix, said that when the company started several years ago, its main selling point to the pet food market was the nutritional benefits of insect protein, but now it’s definitely sustainability.
Josera and Protix were among several European companies that recently joined the Pet Industry Sustainability Coalition (PISC), a US-based organization formed to help companies in the pet industry measure and improve the sustainability of their products, processes and businesses. Pets International magazine, based in the Netherlands, launched a fundraising effort during Interzoo to help establish the European chapter of PISC.
