Interzoo will host its first sustainability conference on May 11, 2026, the day before the trade fair opens in Nuremberg, Germany.
The one-day program will offer CSR and sustainability managers and experts from the pet industry an international platform to learn about sustainability trends and developments, discuss novel approaches, and network. Renowned researchers, industry pioneers and UN representatives will explain key trends and advances in sustainability, drawing on recent studies and best practice examples.
Elliott Harris, Global Economics Expert and former United Nations Chief Economist and Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, will deliver the opening keynote. Harris, who has been closely involved in the design of the global Sustainable Development Agenda, will address cooperation between policymakers and the business community toward a sustainable future.
The conference agenda will cover environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing, production, sales, social responsibility and circular economy models. The Pet Sustainability Coalition and other partners are supporting the event.
The conference will include a workshop presenting the latest results of the 2026 Interzoo Sustainability Study, which Antwerp Management School has been producing for the pet industry since 2018. The study explores factors that influence sustainability in the pet industry, shows progress made and highlights areas where more can be done through collaboration. The fifth edition of the study will be presented in an interactive format to encourage networking among conference delegates.
The first Interzoo Sustainability Award finalists will present their strategic initiatives or business cases for sustainable developments in the pet industry during the afternoon session. The audience and jury will vote together to select the winner. The award will be presented at the official Interzoo opening ceremony on the evening of May 11. Applications can be submitted until the end of February at interzoo-sustainability.com.
"With the new conference and Interzoo Sustainability Award, we are devoting even more attention to sustainability within the framework of the eventful week at Interzoo," said Dr. Rowena Arzt, head of exhibitions at Interzoo organizer WZF. "Based on the significant interest in the topic at Interzoo 2024, we are now dedicating an exclusive day to sustainability. At the world-leading fair itself, we are putting the spotlight on sustainable products and innovations with our new Sustainability Product Showcase and Fresh Ideas Stage. By doing so, we aim to inspire and support the pet industry to continue to work on sustainable solutions and business cases."
Interzoo 2026 runs May 12-15, 2026.
Petfood Forum Europe, which is co-located with Interzoo 2026, now has registration open. The one-day conference will explore consumer trends and nutrition research shaping the pet food and treat industry across Europe. The program will feature presentations from industry experts focusing on market trends, nutrition, ingredient innovation, processing technologies and supply chain management. Agenda and speaker details will be released in February 2026.
