1 dzień temu
Premium dog foods rich in meat can have a larger dietary carbon footprint than their owners, a new study reveals. Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter found striking differences in environmental impact among dog food types, with the highest impact products generating up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest.
The research analyzed nearly 1,000 commercially available dog foods. Wet, raw, and meat-rich products create substantially more emissions than standard dry dog food. Grain-free options also tend to have higher carbon footprints.
The scale of the problem extends beyond individual households. Dog food ingredient production in the UK contributes approximately one percent of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions. If all dogs worldwide were fed like those in the UK, the emissions would exceed half of all commercial jet fuel emissions globally each year.
The environmental dilemma
John Harvey, principal investigator of the study and veterinary surgeon at the University of Edinburgh, highlighted the conflict many pet owners face. "As a veterinary surgeon working on environmental sustainability, I regularly see owners torn between ideals of dogs as meat-eating 'wolves' and their wish to reduce environmental harm," he explained. "Our research shows just how large and variable the climate impact of dog food really is."
The carbon footprint calculations focused on emissions generated during ingredient production. Using large amounts of prime meat that humans could consume increases emissions, while nutritious, low-demand meat cuts can have a lower climate impact.
Recommendations for owners and industry
Harvey urged dog owners to check labels and select foods with lower prime meat content. "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 said.
The researchers called for greater transparency from the pet food industry. "The pet food industry should make sure meat cuts used are of the types not typically eaten by humans, and that labelling is clear," Harvey emphasized. "These steps can help us have healthy, well-fed dogs with a smaller pawprint on the planet."
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council funded the study. Researchers published it in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
