Your pet’s dinner might be leaving a bigger footprint than yours.
We love our dogs like family—but their diets can come with a hidden cost. The pet food industry is massive, and a surprising amount of it runs on the same unsustainable systems as industrial agriculture. From factory-farmed meat to overfished oceans, the kibble and canned food stacked in your pantry often has a larger environmental footprint than your own meals. And because dogs are such loyal omnivores, they’re caught in a system that prioritizes profit, not sustainability.
That doesn’t mean you have to start feeding your pup salad. But it does mean we should think more critically about what’s in that scoop of kibble. Many dog foods are loaded with low-quality animal byproducts, carbon-heavy ingredients, and unnecessary packaging. There are better ways to keep your dog healthy without feeding into destructive systems. A few small changes can lower your dog’s impact—and maybe even improve their health at the same time.
1. Conventional kibble relies on factory-farmed meat and feedlot byproducts.
Margaret Doyle writes for New Roots Institute that meat in pet food often comes from low-grade rendered animal parts, including byproducts from industrial feedlots and slaughterhouses. These aren’t just leftovers—they’re scraps from an industry already responsible for deforestation, methane emissions, and water pollution. And because pet food companies buy in bulk, they often source from the cheapest and most harmful suppliers.
That means your dog’s food could be supporting the same feedlots tied to antibiotic overuse and climate-wrecking emissions. On top of that, dry kibble usually contains fillers like corn and soy grown through industrial agriculture, compounding the environmental toll. It’s not just a meat problem—it’s a whole supply chain issue. Your dog may love the crunch, but it comes with a bite-sized climate consequence.
2. Wet food packaging adds waste that rarely gets recycled.
Canned food might feel like a more wholesome option, but all those aluminum tins come at a cost. Trey Granger notes on Earth911 that while pet food cans are made from recyclable aluminum, their liners, labels, and food residue often keep them out of the recycling stream. Many end up in the trash. And pouches—another popular option—are nearly impossible to recycle due to mixed plastic layers.
The impact adds up fast, especially for multi-pet households. A single dog eating canned food twice a day can generate hundreds of cans or pouches a year. And unlike human food packaging, pet food containers rarely make it into specialty recycling programs. What feels like a loving choice at mealtime can quietly feed the waste stream day after day.
3. Grain-free diets often substitute equally unsustainable ingredients.
Grain-free dog foods exploded in popularity, promising better digestion and fewer allergens. But the grains they cut out—like rice or barley—were often replaced with ingredients like peas, lentils, or potatoes grown in large-scale monocultures.
Lena Jarosch and colleagues report in One Earth that crops like peas and potatoes—common in grain-free diets—can strain ecosystems through monoculture planting, pesticide use, and intensive land demands. Worse, the marketing around grain-free diets sometimes implies that meat-heavy formulas are automatically better. But high meat content means more animal agriculture inputs, more emissions, and more land use. For most dogs, grains aren’t the enemy. But the trend-driven shift away from them hasn’t made the climate any safer—and it hasn’t made most dogs healthier either.
4. Beef-based dog food carries one of the highest carbon footprints.
Beef is one of the most resource-intensive meats on the planet. It takes massive amounts of water, feed, and land to raise cows—and they emit methane along the way. Yet many dog foods still list beef as a primary protein source, especially in premium or “hearty” blends.
While beef might sound appealing to pet owners, it’s often unnecessary from a nutritional standpoint. Dogs can thrive on chicken, fish, or plant-based proteins with a fraction of the environmental impact. Choosing beef because it sounds richer or more indulgent may feel like a treat, but it’s an indulgence that comes with planetary baggage. A simple protein switch can go a long way.
5. Ocean-caught fish contribute to declining marine ecosystems.
Many dog foods use fish as a “healthy” protein alternative, banking on its omega-3 benefits and lean profile. But if that fish isn’t sustainably sourced, it might be part of a collapsing marine system. Overfishing, bycatch, and ocean trawling practices damage coral reefs, deplete fish populations, and harm marine biodiversity. Some pet foods even use species like salmon or whitefish that are already stressed by industrial demand.
The result is a double hit: your dog’s diet supports both agricultural emissions and marine degradation. Look for brands that prioritize bycatch, invasive species, or certified sustainable fish sources. Otherwise, you’re feeding into a food chain that’s already running low.
6. Overprocessed treats add calories and emissions with every bite.
Treats are an easy way to show love—but they’re also a hidden source of waste and emissions. Most dog treats are made with low-grade meat meals, synthetic preservatives, and plastic-heavy packaging. They often travel long distances and undergo energy-intensive processing just to become shelf-stable snacks your dog devours in seconds.
Because treats are rarely scrutinized the way meals are, companies cut corners. Many aren’t ethically sourced, and the meat content comes from the same industrial farms behind climate change. Some treats are even dyed or flavored to appeal to humans more than dogs. A better option? Skip the overprocessed bags and offer fresh, low-impact options like carrot sticks, sweet potato slices, or homemade oat-based bites. Your dog won’t miss the marketing.
7. Prescription diets aren’t always aligned with sustainability.
Veterinary-prescribed dog foods serve real medical purposes—but many are still made by large corporations using the same unsustainable inputs as standard pet food. That means factory-farmed meats, chemical additives, and resource-intensive production, even in formulas meant for sensitive stomachs or chronic conditions. It can be hard to find an eco-conscious alternative when your dog has specific dietary needs, but it’s not impossible.
Some smaller brands now offer limited-ingredient or plant-based options designed with veterinary nutritionists. Always consult your vet first—but if the current diet is causing concern, it’s worth exploring whether lower-impact alternatives can meet both health and climate goals.
8. Human-grade food isn’t always climate-friendly either.
“Human-grade” sounds reassuring, and it often signals better quality control. But it also means the food comes from the same supply chains used to feed people—which still include industrial meat, monocrops, and high-emission transportation. These brands often package in single-serve containers and ship frozen or chilled, which further ramps up energy use.
In some cases, human-grade meals for dogs are just boutique versions of the same carbon-heavy diets humans struggle to make sustainable. That doesn’t mean they’re all bad—it just means the label doesn’t guarantee climate kindness. If you go this route, look for brands with transparent sourcing and packaging commitments, not just gourmet branding.
9. Homemade meat-heavy meals can still harm the planet.
Some pet owners ditch store-bought food entirely in favor of home cooking. While this can reduce packaging and mystery ingredients, it doesn’t automatically make the meals eco-friendly—especially if they’re built around beef, lamb, or other high-impact meats. In fact, sourcing premium cuts for pets can put added strain on food systems.
Dogs need balanced nutrients, not steak dinners. Lean poultry, eggs, or legumes can offer lower-impact alternatives, especially when paired with seasonal vegetables and whole grains. Homemade meals can be a step toward sustainability—but only if the ingredients come from thoughtful, low-waste sources. Otherwise, you’re just relocating the problem from store to stove.
10. Packaging waste adds up fast in multi-dog households.
From kibble bags to treat pouches, the pet aisle is lined with plastic. Most of it’s unrecyclable or difficult to process due to liners and multi-layer film. Bulk buying helps a little, but even large bags use heavy-duty plastic designed to resist moisture, not biodegrade. Multiply that by multiple dogs or years of ownership, and the waste adds up fast.
Refillable bins, recyclable paper sacks, or pet food co-ops can reduce packaging footprints. Some brands now offer compostable bags or returnable containers—but they’re not yet standard. Until that changes, the more you can consolidate purchases or support low-waste suppliers, the better your pet’s diet will be for the planet.
11. Plant-based dog foods are improving—and shrinking the footprint.
Dogs are omnivores, not wolves. While meat is a traditional staple, many can thrive on diets that include plant-based proteins like lentils, quinoa, peas, and soy—when properly balanced. Newer plant-based dog foods are developed with veterinary guidance and include the necessary amino acids, vitamins, and minerals dogs need to stay healthy.
These formulas dramatically cut emissions by skipping animal agriculture altogether. They also reduce water use, land use, and methane output. Not all dogs will thrive on a meat-free diet, but for many, it’s worth exploring. Start with partial replacements or treats to test tolerance, and talk to your vet before switching entirely. Even one meat-free meal a day can make a meaningful dent in your pet’s environmental pawprint.