Earth Day Every Day: How Smarter Dog Food Choices Help the Planet (and Your Pup)

Hey Bork Friends,

Happy Earth Day!

Today we’re doing more than just hugging trees — we’re celebrating all the ways choosing better food for your dog can actually help this wild, beautiful planet we call home.

Because here’s the thing: What’s in your dog’s bowl matters — and not just for them.

And honestly? You’re not alone in caring about this.

Sustainability is quickly becoming one of the biggest forces in pet food trends right now.

Let’s break it down, nerd-style:

The Rise of Sustainable Pet Parenting: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

In the past few years, pet parents have gotten way more intentional about what they feed their dogs — and how those choices impact the world.

Some fast facts:

According to Packaged Facts, nearly half of U.S. pet owners say they’re interested in sustainable pet food options.
A 2024 NielsenIQ report found that 63% of Millennials and Gen Z pet parents prefer brands that align with their environmental values — and they’re willing to pay more for it.
Searches for “eco-friendly dog food” and “sustainable pet products” are up over 30% year-over-year.

Translation?

The days of mystery meat and landfill-bound kibble bags are numbered.

Today’s pet parents (a.k.a. us, the coolest) want brands that think beyond profits — and think about the planet, too.

1. Better Ingredients = Better Farming = Healthier Planet

A lot of big-name dog food brands source from factory farms — the same ones wrecking ecosystems with water waste, chemical runoff, and greenhouse gases.

Choosing brands that use ethically sourced or regeneratively farmed ingredients helps support farmers who are healing the land instead of draining it dry.

A few brands doing it right:

Open Farm (Canadian!) — Regeneratively farmed beef, wild-caught fish, humane certifications across the board.
Gather by Petcurean (Canadian!) — Organic, sustainably harvested ingredients and a low carbon manufacturing process.
The Honest Kitchen — Human-grade, transparency in sourcing, eco-conscious production.

Pro tip:

Look for labels like “regenerative agriculture,” “certified humane,” or “MSC–certified sustainable seafood.” Those aren’t just pretty stickers — they actually mean something.

2. Transparency Isn’t Just Nice — It’s the New Standard

If a dog food brand hides where they get their meat, grains, or veggies from… yikes.

That’s not just shady marketing — it’s usually a red flag for poor sourcing and massive environmental impact.

Brands that proudly share their sourcing and sustainability practices?

That’s the future.

One of the best examples?

Open Farm literally lets you trace each batch of food right back to its farm sources.

(Just so you know, Open Farm will be mentioned a few times in this post. They are doing things RIGHT.)

In fact, consumer surveys show that 75% of shoppers are more likely to stay loyal to brands they believe are transparent about their values.

Transparency isn’t a bonus anymore — it’s the baseline.

3. Packaging Is Part of the Problem (and the Solution)

Let’s be real:

Those giant plastic kibble bags? They’re not winning any awards in the eco department.

Thankfully, a new wave of pet brands are getting serious about packaging waste.

Some eco-innovators to check out:

Open Farm offers a packaging recycling program through TerraCycle.
Ziwi Peak (New Zealand, but worth a nod) uses recyclable packaging materials whenever possible.
Gather by Petcurean uses 100% recyclable materials and eco-conscious printing.

Even better?

Pet industry analysts predict sustainable packaging will be a $19 billion market by 2027.

Brands ignoring it are basically begging to be left behind.

4. Small Swaps, Big Impact

You don’t have to overhaul your dog’s entire life overnight to make a difference.

Some simple Earth-loving moves:

Try adding even one eco-friendly topper or treat a week from a sustainable brand.
Pick up poop with compostable poop bags like Earth Rated (Canadian!).
Support local pet food companies with shorter supply chains (less travel = less carbon).
Choose brands with B Corp certification or formal climate initiatives.
Recycle your pet food bags if your city accepts them (or join a mail-back recycling program).

Small changes, stacked over time = big tail wags for the planet.

Brands We’re Watching (and Loving) for Earth-Friendly Moves

Canadian Brands:

Open Farm — Ethical sourcing, regenerative farming, recyclable packaging.
Gather by Petcurean — Organic ingredients, eco-friendly manufacturing, Canadian-grown pride.
Earth Rated — Compostable poop bags and sustainable dog essentials made by a Canadian company with heart.

Other Global Standouts:

The Honest Kitchen (USA) — Human-grade, sustainably sourced.
Ziwi Peak (NZ) — Ethical free-range meat and low-waste production.

Final Bork

Earth Day is a great reminder that everything’s connected — your dog’s bowl, your choices, and this big spinning ball of dirt and magic we live on.

The future of pet food is planet-first.

And honestly? We’re so here for it.

Here’s to better food, healthier dogs, and a greener, wagging world — today and every day.

Happy Earth Day, you beautiful eco-warrior!

P.S. Got a favorite sustainable dog food brand you love? Tell us in the comments — we’re always sniffing out new favorites to feature!

Sustainability Stats You Should Know:

63% of Gen Z/Millennial pet parents seek eco-aligned brands.
47% of U.S. dog owners say “environmentally responsible” influences their buying.
Sustainable pet products market expected to grow 20% year over year through 2030. (Source: NielsenIQ, Packaged Facts, Future Market Insights)

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