At PawCo, we believe that what we feed our dogs shouldn’t come at the expense of our planet. Sustainability is not just a trend for us—it’s a core part of our mission. The dog food industry, particularly meat-based formulas, has a significant environmental footprint, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and deforestation. By pioneering healthy, premium, plant-based nutrition, we aim to reduce this impact while providing dogs with complete, balanced, and delicious meals. But we don’t just make claims—we back them up with science.
Pawco’s environmental impact assessment is based on peer-reviewed studies that provide scientific benchmarks for measuring the sustainability benefits of plant-based pet food. Below is a summary of each study referenced in our analysis and how Pawco applied these findings to support our claims.
1. Okin, G. S. (2022). “Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats” – PLOS ONE
Study Summary:
This study quantified the environmental impact of pet food consumption in the U.S. by analyzing the dietary energy intake of dogs and cats. It estimated that 34% of the total dietary energy of U.S. dogs comes from animal-based sources. It also highlighted that transitioning pets to plant-based diets could significantly reduce the demand for livestock farming, thereby lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water use, and land use.
Application in Pawco’s Claims:
Pawco used the 34% animal-based energy proportion from this study to estimate how many livestock lives were spared by switching to our vegan dog food. By calculating the total kcal produced by Pawco and applying this proportion, we determined that we have avoided approximately 2,758 livestock lives over three years.
2. Knight, A. (2023). “The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats, and people” – PLOS ONE
Study Summary:
This study provided a conversion factor for estimating how many livestock animals could be spared if all U.S. dogs transitioned to a nutritionally adequate vegan diet. It concluded that a full transition could save approximately 1.7 billion terrestrial livestock animals per year.
Application in Pawco’s Claims:
Using the conversion factor derived in this study, we calculated the estimated number of livestock lives spared through Pawco’s production volume. This allowed us to substantiate our claim that Pawco’s vegan dog food has contributed to reducing the demand for animal farming.
3. Nemecek, J. P. (2019). “Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers” – American Association for the Advancement of Science
Study Summary:
This research assessed the environmental footprint of different food systems, providing conversion factors for GHG emissions reduction and water savings when switching from animal-based to plant-based diets.
- It found that replacing 1,000 kcal of animal-based food with plant-based alternatives reduces GHG emissions by approximately 50 kg CO2-equivalent.
- The study also established that animal-based foods require 15 times more water per kcal compared to plant-based foods.
Application in Pawco’s Claims:
- GHG Emissions Reduction:
By applying the 50 kg CO2-equivalent per 1,000 kcal avoided factor, Pawco calculated that its vegan dog food has reduced GHG emissions by approximately 1,178 metric tons CO2-equivalent over three years.
- Water Savings:
Using the 15 liters per kcal water savings factor, Pawco determined that its production saved approximately 353,678,457 liters of water.
Making the Data Understandable
To make these figures more tangible:
- The GHG emissions savings are equivalent to taking over 250 cars off the road for a year.
- The water savings equate to providing drinking water for over 700,000 people for a year.
- The 2,758 livestock lives spared are comparable to preventing the slaughter of an entire large-scale farm’s worth of animals.
By leveraging scientifically validated methodologies, Pawco ensures transparency in our environmental claims, reinforcing the positive impact of plant-based pet nutrition.
Conclusion
Each of the referenced studies played a crucial role in shaping Pawco’s environmental impact assessment. Through a data-driven approach, we provide credible, quantifiable evidence of how our vegan dog food contributes to a more sustainable pet food industry. These insights help consumers make informed decisions while supporting Pawco’s mission to lead the transformation toward plant-based pet nutrition.