Purina has today (March 1) launched a dog treat formulated with surplus grains from breweries.
By upcycling grains that might otherwise be left to spoil, Purina says it is able to reduce food waste, re-purposing this nutritiously dense substance as a pet food ingredient – in a step towards a ‘more circular economy’.
The new treat will be sold under the AdVENTuROS brand over a six-week trial phase in the Netherlands. The product is expected to reach thousands of customers as part of a limited scale pilot focused on gauging consumer response..
It is the latest creation from Purina’s LiveLab innovation unit, which works ‘to actively explore industry challenges and develop new product and packaging solutions to respond to changing consumer demand’.
As part of this mission, the LiveLab team is engaged with generating innovative new ideas and solutions to improve the environmental impact of Purina products. LiveLab’s previous creation of Purina’s Beyond Nature’s Protein uses alternative proteins to make better use of the planet’s resources..
Developed as ‘a rapid innovation’ in response to social and consumer trends, the AdVENTuROS new treat journey took just six months from conception to launch.
Nestlé Purina EMENA director of insight and innovation Olena Topilnytska said: “As a business, we are always exploring ways in which we can grow. But in order to do so responsibly, it is essential that we seek opportunities to make a positive difference throughout our activities, from sourcing to product portfolio. This is why LiveLab identified upcycling as such an exciting and important avenue to explore within the pet care sector.
“Upcycling means taking ingredients that otherwise would be wasted and turning them into new nutritious products. Through the upcycling of surplus grains from breweries, we are able to create a nutritious treat for dogs that reduces waste and provides a more sustainable option for consumers.”
Purina will assess customer feedback in real time during the six-week trial period, with the response helping to determine future deployment and scale-up of the product.
