Impact Unleashed 2026 is the Pet Sustainability Coalition's annual conference scheduled for November 9-11 in Boulder, Colorado, bringing together pet industry executives and sustainability leaders to address current business and environmental challenges through keynotes, decision challenges, networking, and the Worldwide Pet Sustainability Awards Gala.
- Event Details: Impact Unleashed 2026 takes place November 9-11 at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder, Colorado with the theme "Rooted in Community. Rising to Meet Tomorrow."
- Key Activities: Agenda includes keynote speeches, leadership conversations, decision challenges, student presentations, networking events, and off-site ranch visits focused on sustainability topics.
- Featured Speakers: Industry leaders include Kevin Rabinovitch (Mars), Kate Williams (1% for the Planet), Andrew Mayock (former U.S. government chief sustainability officer), and representatives from PetSmart, Nestlé Purina, and Crocs.
- Recognition Program: The Worldwide Pet Sustainability Awards Gala honors companies and individuals for sustainability leadership, innovation, and impact across the global pet industry.
- Decision Focus: A key session features leaders from Earth Animal, Instinct, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and others discussing real sustainability decisions made under business pressure and constraints.
The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) released the agenda for Impact Unleashed 2026, scheduled for Nov. 9-11 at the Limelight Hotel in Boulder, Colorado.
This year’s theme is “Rooted in Community. Rising to Meet Tomorrow.” The event will bring together executives and sustainability leaders from across the pet industry to examine business and sustainability decisions companies currently face. The agenda includes keynotes, leadership conversations, decision challenges, networking, student presentations and off-site experiences.
“The challenges facing our industry aren’t going to be solved by doing more of the same, or by companies working in isolation,” said Chloe DiVita, director of growth at PSC.
"We need to be willing to ask harder questions, challenge how we’ve always done things, and learn from people who see the world differently," she explained. "Impact Unleashed is designed to create that kind of community, where honest conversations spark new ideas, relationships become partnerships, and people leave ready to turn what they’ve learned into meaningful action."
The full agenda is available here.
Impact Unleashed 2026 agenda highlights
In a decision room session, “What We Cut, What We Kept: Sustainability Commitments Under Pressure,” leaders from Earth Animal, Instinct, rePurpose Global, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Tyler Packaging will discuss decisions they made to protect, pause or reduce sustainability initiatives. Attendees will vote on what they would have done before hearing the panelists’ decisions.
In the Pet Impact Voices session, students will deliver short talks on sustainability topics in the pet industry, including regenerative agriculture, packaging, consumer behavior and artificial intelligence. A judging panel will evaluate the presentations, and top presenters will receive recognition and prizes. PetSmart, Earth Animal and APPA are sponsoring the session.
Attendees may also visit the Savory Institute Ranch, a holistic bison ranch focused on regenerating grasslands. Royal Canin is sponsoring the visit.
Featured speakers include Kevin Rabinovitch, vice president of global sustainability at Mars; Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet; Andrew Mayock, former chief sustainability officer for the U.S. government; and Deanna Bratter, chief sustainability officer at Crocs Inc. Speakers and panelists from PetSmart, Open Farm, APPA, Nestlé Purina PetCare, EarthWise Pet, Healthy Pet and Instinct will also participate.
The event will also include the Worldwide Pet Sustainability Awards Gala, a formal dinner recognizing companies and individuals in the global pet industry for sustainability leadership, innovation and impact.
Networking events include morning networking sponsored by MFiber, Peel Plastics, rePurpose Global, Sonoco and TOPPAN Packaging Americas; a welcome happy hour and lunches sponsored by Morris Packaging and APPA; a gala cocktail reception sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition; and a sunrise stroll sponsored by APPA. Topic-table networking sessions and virtual networking through the Whova event app are also planned.
“Progress happens when companies come together to share ideas, tackle challenges and turn ambition into practical action,” said Penny Steinwagner of Morris Packaging, the event’s gold sponsor. “Morris Packaging is proud to support Impact Unleashed and the conversations and connections helping move the pet industry forward.”
