Your dog’s dinner could have a much larger climate impact than you think, particularly if they have a penchant for ‘premium’ brands.
Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter recently calculated the carbon footprint of 996 types of dog food sold by a single retailer in the UK. The selection included dry, wet and raw foods with plant-based and grain-free options.
Published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, the study warned that the production of ingredients used in UK dog food contributes to around 0.9 to 1.3 per cent of the country’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and up to 3.7 per cent of the UK food system’s GHG emissions.
If these ingredients were used to feed all pooches worldwide, dog food would produce more than half of the emissions generated by burning jet fuel for commercial flying each year.
The climate impact of dog food
Scientists found significant differences in the environmental impact of commercial dog foods, with the highest-impact food responsible for up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-rated options.
Foods that use large amounts of prime meat (the highest quality, which could otherwise be eaten by humans) push up emissions, while using carcass parts that are low in demand helps limit the environmental impact.
The study found that food that isn’t marketed as “grain-free” tends to produce much lower emissions than wet, raw or grain-free options.
Plant-based dog food was also found to reduce emissions. However, the research warned that only a small number (12) of these types of foods were available to test.
Should I change my dog’s diet?
John Harvey, from the University of Edinburgh's Royal School of Veterinary Studies, says owners are often torn between the ideals of dogs being meat-eating “wolves” and their wish to be environmentally-friendly.
“It's important for owners to know that choosing grain-free, wet or raw foods can result in higher impacts compared to standard dry kibble foods,” he adds.
“Thepet food industry should make sure meat cuts used are of the types not typically eaten by humans, and that labelling is clear. These steps can help us have healthy, well-fed dogs with a smaller pawprint on the planet.”
The study argues that reducing the worst extremes of climate change reduces suffering caused to humans as well as pets.
“Dogs experience climate-fuelled consequences of extreme weather, natural disasters, population displacement and widening inequality,” the paper concludes.
