Dog diets can have a larger carbon pawprint than their owners, researchers say

Researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter analysed almost 1,000 commercial dog foods and found wet, raw and meat‑rich (including some grain‑free) products tended to produce substantially higher greenhouse gas emissions than standard dry kibble; the study reports a 20.1 kg dog on a raw or wet grain‑free diet can have nearly double the dietary emissions of an average UK person.

A new analysis finds some commercial dog diets produce more greenhouse gas emissions than the food eaten by their owners. Scientists at the Universities of Edinburgh and Exeter used labelling information to estimate emissions from ingredient production across almost 1,000 dog foods. The sample included dry, wet and raw products as well as grain‑free and a small number of plant‑based options. The findings come as luxury and raw feeding trends have become more visible on social media. Key findings: - Researchers analysed ingredient and nutrient labels for nearly 1,000 commercially available dog foods to estimate emissions associated with ingredient production. - Wet, raw and meat‑rich products, and many grain‑free formulas, tended to have substantially higher greenhouse gas emissions than standard dry kibble. - The study reports an average UK person’s diet emits about 2,624 kg CO2e per year, while a 20.1 kg dog on a raw or wet grain‑free diet can have a dietary carbon pawprint of nearly double that amount. - Production of ingredients used in UK dog food was estimated to contribute about 1% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. - The highest impact dog foods produced up to 65 times more emissions than the lowest impact options, and producing the same types of dog food worldwide was estimated to generate emissions equivalent to over half those from burning jet fuel in commercial flights each year. Summary: The analysis, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, highlights large variation in the climate impact of commercial dog foods and identifies wet, raw and grain‑free, meat‑rich formulas as having the largest emissions. The authors reported that clearer labelling and the use of meat cuts not typically eaten by humans could reduce impacts, and they noted that plant‑based dog food options were limited in the available sample. Undetermined at this time.