Boosting Brand Value in the Pet Food Industry through Waste-to-Energy Partnerships
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The Challenge of Food Waste in the Pet Industry
As pet ownership continues to rise globally, so does the production of pet food and inevitably, the waste associated with it. With the number of dogs in the UK increasing to 13.5 million in 2024 and the number of cats to 12.5 million, the rapid rise in furry friends is creating more waste than (quite literally) ever before. And it’s not just the food waste itself, the pet food industry generates a substantial amount of excess waste every year from ‘preventable’ issues like damaged packaging, contaminated products and general run-off waste.
So, let’s dive into why tackling waste head-on is so important in the pet food industry.
Key Points
- Unavoidable waste in the pet food industry
- The importance of waste management
- Anaerobic digestion of waste pet food
- The future of pet food sustainability
“There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”
Why Waste Management Matters for Pet Food Companies
- Cost Saving: Less waste equals more efficient production. And with ingredient costs skyrocketing, every little helps.
- Customers Caring: More pet owners are choosing brands based on their eco-credentials. In fact, a Deloitte report found that 1 in 3 shoppers have ditched brands because of ‘sustainability-related concerns’. That’s a huge amount of potential customers walking away.
- Rule Changing: We’re all aware our government is getting serious about waste, acts like the plastic packaging tax in 2022 changed the way many businesses operated. Staying ahead of emerging sustainability rules isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good business too!
When Waste is Unavoidable: Enter Anaerobic Digestion
Even with the best laid plans, some waste is inevitable. It’s important to remember that the waste processed through AD is typically food that can’t be used for various reasons, like:
- Food that got contaminated during production
- Products with damaged packaging
- Expired pet food
- Recalled products
- Waste from machine breakdowns
Instead of sending this product to a landfill, AD turns it into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertiliser for farming, giving your waste a second life!
By being smart about waste management, pet food companies can save money, make customers happy, and help the planet. It’s a win-win-win situation. Definitely something to wag your tail about!
“A recent study explored the environmental impact of dog and cat feed, showing greenhouse gas emission rates of 33.56 kg CO2eq/1,000 kcal for wet food and 4.25 kg CO2eq/1,000 kcal for dry pet food.” – The University of Edinburgh
How Butternut Box and Hemswell Biogas are Cooking Up Sustainability
Let’s dive into a real-world example of how waste-to-energy partnerships can work wonders; a recent collaboration between Butternut Box, one of our favourite B Corp pet food companies, and Hemswell Biogas, one of our favourite anaerobic digestion facilities (just don’t tell the others, they’re all our favourites!).
The Impact
By actively participating in a waste-to-energy initiative, Butternut Box couldn’t be clearer on their commitment to environmental responsibility. And with over 30K 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, Eco-conscious pet owners are clearly more than happy with the company.
The company’s ethical stance goes way beyond waste management. Butternut Box donates to local animal shelters and encourages its employees to volunteer at these facilities, their charity work really is inspiring:
“We donated 82,960 meals to dogs in need and completed 1,052 hours of volunteering. We’re pleased to have partnered with 8 new charities… Our contributions also included two freezers, a bunch of bouncy balls, and 1,776 additional product donations, including treats. In total, we provided over £120,000 in financial support and product donations.” – Butternut Box
It’s safe to say their position as a socially responsible brand is rock solid, and you can read their 2023 impact report to find out more.
The Future of Waste-to-Energy Partnerships in the Pet Food Industry
The collaboration between Butternut Box and Hemswell Biogas is just the beginning, it serves as an excellent model for other pet food companies looking to bring their sustainability into line and boost their brand value. As more pet food companies catch on, we’re looking forward to seeing some exciting waste management developments:
- Wastewater Management: Exploring solutions for processing and recycling wastewater from production facilities.
- Packaging Innovations: Developing more sustainable packaging solutions that can be more easily processed or recycled.
- Carbon Footprint Reduction: Continuously optimising transportation and processing methods to minimise overall carbon emissions.
The Big Picture: Why This Matters
Partnerships like this show that being green isn’t just about ticking boxes or saving money. It’s about creating real value, for businesses, for pet owners, and for our planet.
Looking to the future, it’s clear these kinds of collaborations will become more than just a nice-to-have. They could well be the secret ingredient that helps pet food companies grow at a time where consumers care more and more about sustainability.
Create a sustainability story worth barking about; are you a pet food company looking to take your sustainability efforts to the next level? Get in touch with our team today to explore how we can tailor a waste-to-energy solution that works.
