Guest Blog Post
Written by PawCo & the Pet Sustainability Coalition
www.mypawco.com
In a market crowded with promises of responsibility, genuine environmental action is still rare. At PawCo, sustainability is not just a claim — it’s the foundation of how we design every product. We believe dogs deserve complete, balanced, and tasty nutrition, without the heavy environmental costs of meat-based diets.
A recent article by animal welfare researcher Jenny Mace and veterinarian Andrew Knight makes one thing clear: the ethical companion animal food sector is becoming impossible to ignore. Between 2020 and 2024, the global vegan companion animal food market grew from nearly $10 billion USD to $27 billion USD, and within the next decade, it’s expected to double again to $57 billion.
Rising Awareness and the Animal Lover’s Paradox
Mace and Knight highlight that as more pet parents explore the full impact of their feeding choices, many are starting to ask thoughtful questions about what it means to align our love for animals with our dietary decisions. It’s a reflection that’s inspiring many to seek lower-impact options.
Their research reveals that nearly half of the dog and cat food sold in the U.S. already includes some plant-based ingredients. Still, the demand for meat and animal byproducts in pet food plays a role in supporting industrial animal agriculture.
Research estimates that conventional meat-based pet food delivers over 25% of animal‑derived calories in the U.S. Additionally, around 16.9% of rendered protein meals are used by the pet food industry.
Since over 98% of poultry, pigs, and farmed fish in the U.S. are raised in intensive systems, much of the meat entering pet food is drawn from factory‑farmed sources.
Health, Quality, and Palatability
For pet parents, nutrition and taste are top priorities. More than a dozen scientific studies now show that well-formulated vegan diets are equally healthy or even superior compared to meat-based diets. Palatability studies with thousands of companion animals confirm that dogs and cats enjoy vegan meals just as much as traditional ones.
This evidence is helping dissolve old myths, supported by endorsements from groups like the British Veterinary Association and U.K. Pet Food, which recognizes vegan diets as sound when properly formulated.
A Cost–Benefit Lens on Pet Nutrition
When we look at pet nutrition through the lens of cost–benefit analysis—a framework for weighing outcomes for people, animals, and the planet—an important pattern emerges. Traditional meat-based diets often have a higher environmental impact, including greater greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption compared to plant-based alternatives. A 2020 study found that pet food is responsible for as much as 30% of the environmental impact of animal production in the U.S., largely due to its reliance on livestock agriculture. Continued reliance on the broader livestock supply chain contributes to the demand for intensive animal agriculture.
While plant-based pet foods aren’t always cheaper at the checkout today, they offer long-term value through environmental efficiency, ingredient stability, and reduced resource use.
At PawCo, we’ve seen this in practice. Since our launch, our community of over 1,200 dogs has helped us save more than 471 million liters of water, cut 2 million kilograms of CO₂ emissions, and spare 3,674 livestock lives. These numbers aren’t just symbolic, they’re grounded in real methodology.
PawCo CO2 Emissions Reductions Since 2021
We’ve outlined exactly how we calculate our impact in our Impact Claims article. We invite you to take a closer look at the data and see how every bowl, bar, or topper contributes to measurable environmental savings.
PawCo’s Role in a Changing Market
At PawCo, we’re proud to compete in both the traditional pet food space and the growing movement toward more ethical, plant-based options for our furry friends. We understand that switching to plant-powered nutrition means answering big questions—about taste, complete nutrition, and trust. And we’re here for it. Innovation is how we move forward.
All of PawCo’s core meals—InstaBites™, GreenBites™, and LuxBites™—are AAFCO-approved, meaning they meet the gold standard for complete and balanced nutrition. For pet parents exploring this space for the first time, that assurance matters. AAFCO guidelines help ensure pets get the right nutrients, regardless of whether the recipe includes meat or plants.
Looking Ahead
The science is mounting, the market is expanding, and consumer values are shifting. As Dr. Andrew Knight’s body of work shows, vegan pet food is not a passing trend, it’s a credible, evidence-based path toward healthier pets and a healthier planet. For brands, retailers, distributors, and suppliers alike, this is a moment to ask: How is your business evolving to meet this moment?
At PawCo, we invite pet parents to be part of that shift. Every bowl, bar, or topper is more than nutrition, it’s a choice for a sustainable and compassionate future. We invite you to request a free sample box to see why PawCo is the smartest new addition to your shelves.