Today, we’re excited to share how PawCo is making a positive impact on one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – specifically, Goal 2: Zero Hunger.
Understanding the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. These 17 goals address global challenges, including those related to hunger, poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. Each goal has specific targets and indicators to measure progress.
Why are the SDGs important? They provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. They recognize that ending hunger and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth—all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
In this article, we are focusing on SDG 2: Zero Hunger, and how PawCo is striving to achieve and support this critical goal.
What is Sustainable Development Goal 2?
Before we dive into how we’re making a difference, let’s talk about Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2). SDG 2 is all about ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. The goal is to ensure that everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round. It’s also about adopting sustainable food production practices that help maintain ecosystems, improve soil quality, and support biodiversity. Achieving SDG 2 is vital for building a healthy and sustainable future for everyone on this planet.
PawCo’s Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger
PawCo’s mission to provide high-quality, plant-based nutrition for dogs indirectly supports the fight against human hunger by promoting sustainable food production practices. By reducing the demand for animal-based products, PawCo helps decrease the pressure on global food resources, freeing up grains and other crops that can be redirected to human consumption. Our focus on environmental sustainability aligns with efforts to create more resilient and efficient food systems, which in the long run contributes to global food security and helps to alleviate hunger.
Reducing Livestock Production and Promoting Sustainable Food Systems
Since we launched, PawCo has produced 19,456,295 kcal of vegan dog food. According to a study by Gregory S. Okin, about 34% of a typical dog’s dietary energy comes from animal sources, and by creating all our meals with only plant-based ingredients, we’ve avoided using 6,615,140.3 animal-based calories. This shift means we’ve spared approximately 774 livestock lives. Through this effort, Pawco helps reduce the land needed for livestock production, which helps preserve natural habitats and promote biodiversity. This aligns with the goal of ensuring sustainable food production systems.
Saving Water and Promoting Efficiency
Did you know that research shows that plant-based diets can significantly reduce water usage? On average, animal-based foods require about 15 times more water per kcal compared to plant-based foods. By making the switch and avoiding 6,615,140.3 animal-based calories, we’ve saved around 99,227,104 liters of water over three years—that’s enough to fill 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools! This incredible water savings helps conserve this precious resource for future generations.
Why It Matters
While our vegan dog food may not directly address human hunger, our sustainable practices have a positive ripple effect on the environment. By reducing water usage, conserving natural habitats, and promoting sustainable agriculture, we’re doing our part to support the goals of SDG 2. At PawCo, we’re proud to be a part of this global movement towards a more sustainable and ethical future. Together, we’re not only nourishing our pets with delicious, plant-based meals but also contributing to a healthier planet.