Manufacturers’ trade association UK Pet Food has unveiled ‘Ambition 2030’, a new roadmap to help guide its members towards sustainability goals.
Ambition 2030 is designed to give the industry a shared direction across five key areas – Net Zero, contributing to a 50% reduction in emissions across the agri-food supply chain by 2030; Nature Restoration, halting and reversing nature loss to help pet owners enjoy and protect biodiversity; Sustainable Commodities, eliminating deforestation and land conversion from directly sourced ingredients by 2030; Circular Food Systems, optimising co-products, alternative ingredients, and efficient manufacturing to reduce environmental impact; and Packaging, supporting a world-class packaging recycling system in the UK and reducing packaging’s environmental footprint.
The programme was launched at UK Pet Food’s recent parliamentary reception, held at the Houses of Parliament and sponsored by Danny Chambers MP, Vice-Chair of the Dog Advisory Welfare and the Animal Welfare All Party Parliamentary Groups.
To support the initiative, UK Pet Food has developed a Sustainability Action Toolkit to help its members measure progress and share best practice.
New data from product intelligence specialists Vypr highlights strong public support for sustainability in pet food – 77% of pet owners believe brands should protect nature, and 51% rank animal welfare and ethical sourcing as their top priorities.
UK Pet Food deputy chief executive Nicole Paley said: “Pet food is an important part of a sustainable food system. Our industry already uses around one million tonnes of UK agricultural produce each year – much of it by-products from the human food chain. These ingredients help minimise waste and support a circular economy, while enabling us to create affordable, nutritious pet food that contributes to a more sustainable future.
“Through Ambition 2030, we aim to set a benchmark for sustainability across the sector, pooling resources and knowledge to help all our members, large and small, strengthen their strategies. Collaboration, data, and shared accountability will accelerate progress for the whole industry.”
Danny Chambers MP added: “The pet food sector is an important part of the UK’s agri-food economy and has a major role to play in building a more sustainable food system.
“I’m proud to support UK Pet Food’s Ambition 2030, which brings industry together to take practical steps that benefit animals, people, and the environment alike. It’s vital the sector continues to lead with both responsibility and accountability.”
