Study of 1,000 products finds wet, raw and meat-free foods have substantially higher climate impact than dry kibble
Dog food accounts for 1% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to research that finds wet, raw and meat-rich products are associated with substantially higher emissions than dry kibble.
The analysis revealed striking differences in the environmental impact of commercial dog foods, with the highest-impact foods being responsible for up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest-rated options.
The findings will leave environmentally conscious pet owners torn between giving their dogs the most delicious food and minimising their impact on the climate.
“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,” said the study’s principal investigator, John Harvey, from the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
