Nestlé Purina has unveiled six new commitments dedicated to “improving the life and wellbeing of pets, people and the health of our planet”.
The six commitments focus on providing high-quality nutrition for pets, whilst tackling wider societal and environmental issues, including improving the health of people in vulnerable situations through the pet-human bond.
The first commitment, to innovate pet nutrition and source ingredients through regenerative practices, will see Purina launch 20 new products designed to improve the health and wellbeing of pets by 2024. In addition, 20% of cereals & vegetables proteins will be sourced from regenerative agriculture methods by 2025, moving to 50% by 2030. Also by 2030, only fish sourced through responsible practices will be used.
The second commitment, to promote pet adoption by leveraging partnerships, includes an extended partnership with Dogs Trust Worldwide (DTWW) as well as continued support for organisations such as Cats Protection and Canine Partners.
Thirdly, Purina is pledging to promote responsible pet ownership programmes by working with expert partners in education across 13 different countries to help children better understand pet behaviour and care.
A further commitment is to foster people’s health through the power of the pet-human bond. By 2030, the company aims to help one million people in vulnerable situations to improve their health and wellbeing through bonding with pets. To help achieve this, the brand will develop a BetterWithPets Prize 2022, with the sourcing of official applications to start in January 2023.
The final two commitments are to work towards a waste-free future and to help advance regeneration of soil and ocean ecosystems.
By 2025, it is hoped that 100% of Purina’s packaging will be reusable or recyclable, with the aim to reduce the use of virgin plastics by one third during the same time period. By 2030, new circular ingredient solutions will be integrated into Purina’s product portfolio.
Further goals to be achieved by 2030 include a 50% cut in CO2 emissions, the reduction of excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilisers in its agricultural supply chain and participation in seaweed and seagrass restoration projects to help capture more carbon and promote biodiversity.
In the UK, Purina is also investing in Landscape Enterprise Networks, a collaborative landscape programme promoting regenerative farming practices. The project so far has impacted 4,335 hectares of land in the East of England, with an uptake in sustainable farming practices.
Calum Macrae, managing director of Purina UK&I, said: “At Purina, we are passionate about creating richer lives for pets and the people who love them. In the UK, our valued long-term partnerships are at the heart of helping us make a real difference. For example, we continue to work with our friends at Cats Protection and Canine Partners to help strengthen the loving bonds between pets and people. We know the power that these relationships have and the incredible benefits they can deliver for both mental and physical wellbeing – for owners and their beloved pets alike.
“Nutrition has always been at the heart of what we do, but we want to go further and do more of what matters for pets, the people who love them and the planet we inhabit. As a result that requires us to step up to positively impact the planet, support a more equitable society and improve the lives of our pets. That’s why here in the UK and Ireland and across Europe, we have set these bold and ambitious commitments.”
Jeff Hamilton, ceo of Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe added: “To reach Net Zero and support the halt of biodiversity loss, we must accelerate our regeneration journey in pet food and advance positive change through collaboration with those working alongside us in our supply chain. As a pet owner myself, I know first-hand how important the pet-human bond can be, and I am proud that we are able to support people in vulnerable situations through this unique relationship between people and pets.”
