Pet owners torn between dog meals and cutting climate impact: study

By Selcuk Uysal

AA (AA) — Pet owners face a growing dilemma between feeding their dogs and reducing their environmental impact, according to a new study that examines the climate footprint of commercial dog food.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed nearly 1,000 dog food products, using ingredient and nutritional data to estimate their greenhouse gas emissions, The Guardian reported.

The study found striking differences across products, with the most carbon-intensive dog foods generating up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-impact options.

Wet, raw and meat-heavy foods were associated with significantly higher emissions than standard dry kibble, while grain-free products also tended to rank higher in climate impact.

Led by John Harvey of the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, the research estimates that ingredients used in UK commercial dog foods account for about 2.3% to 3.7% of the country’s food-system emissions, equivalent to roughly 0.9% to 1.3% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions, or about 1% overall.

If dog-feeding patterns similar to those in the UK were adopted globally, emissions from pet food production would exceed more than half of the annual greenhouse gases produced by jet fuel used in commercial aviation, the study found.

The findings underscore the challenge facing pet owners who want to provide nutritious and appealing food for their dogs while limiting environmental harm.

Researchers said switching to lower-impact dry kibble could significantly reduce a dog’s “carbon pawprint” without compromising nutritional value, offering a potential way to balance animal welfare and climate concerns.