The Aussies 2019 - Members version

For example, animal protein can be replaced by plant protein,
which requires substanDally less water and energy to produce.
Soy-based proteins are a common pet food ingredient, and
their producDon is esDmated to be 6 to 20 Dmes more
efficient in terms of fossil fuel requirements.
Pet food manufacturers also make heavy use of the secondary
products from the human food chain. That's great from a
sustainability standpoint, because we're using the products
that would otherwise not be used. In bygone days, dogs were
ocen fed the scraps from our meals. It’s taking this back to
previous Dmes, but dogs were able to cope.
Sustainability is avoidance of the
depleBon of natural resources in
order to maintain an ecological
balance.
Many suggest rethinking the diet of our dogs would help to
reduce the growing problem of obesity. Less food, less weight.
Research is suggesDng a large proporDon of dogs are 20%
overweight. If we reduced the amount we feed our dogs to
prevent the obesity, it would be a more sustainable approach
and reduce the chance of illnesses like diabetes. These create
a further impact on sustainability. The drugs have to be
produced, shipped, collected and administered. All involving
affecDng the carbon footprint and extra plasDc needing to be
managed.
Sales features
Many pet food manufacturers are using the green credenDals
as a way to a2ract customers to their products. With shelves
full of dog food all suggesDng it’s great for your Aussie for a
string of reasons – green credenDals as an added extra might
just be a way to differenDate their product.
Those Aussie owners who were at the Party in Park at
Windsor may have visited the Scrumbles stand. They were
offering free product to breeders with puppies, so an added
draw. Their ethos is to have a net posiDve impact on the
planet, which means giving back more than they consume and
leaving things be2er than they found them. They have made a
conscious decision to reduce the impact by manufacturing in
the UK; choosing packaging materials that are earth friendly
and undertaking a life cycle assessment, with the support of
the University of Bath to understand the exact impact
Scrumbles has on the environment so they can idenDfy what
changes they need to make.
Another new approach is to look to other forms of protein
rather than plant based. The latest innovaDon is insects being
used. Obviously, it has images of ‘I’m a Celebrity’, which is
perhaps apt for an Australian Terrier. It is mostly available in a
dried dog food form, although Trovet does offer Dnned food.
These products don’t come cheap – 1.5kg of the Yora product
costs £13.99 from Pets Corner. It is based on grubs farmed in
Holland.
What goes in one end…
Comes out the other. Poo bags are an essenDal part of any
Aussie owner’s life. But choosing the right poo bags can have
an impact on the environment. When supermarket plasDc
bags were freely available these were used by many dog
owners to pick up acer their dogs. When the changes came
and these cost iniDally 5p each, there was a sudden surge in
the sales of the Poo bags. However, not all the bags you buy
are eco-friendly. Today, you can buy bags that are
biodegradable. And yes they can work out a li2le more
expensive money-wise than the local pound store. But
there’s lots of online deals, so this small change can start to
make a difference.
Packaged up
It is not just the poo bags that need to be considered, but the
packaging of all dog products. The Terracycle company will
collect pet treat flexible pouches, all wet food pouches and
pet food flexible plasDc packaging. They transform the
materials in new products for re-use. In the UK, TerraCycle®,
Whiskas® and James Wellbeloved® have partnered to create
a free recycling programme for all pet food plasDc pouches &
flexible plasDc bags.
The programme operates through a network of private and
public drop-off locaDons throughout the UK. As an individual,
company, charity or school, you can drop off your pet food
plasDc pouches & flexible plasDc bags at an exisDng public
drop-off locaDon. The website shows the locaDons. You can
register for free pick- ups and the amount you send to
recycling gives points which can be converted to cash or gics
for non-profit organisaDon. Although it does not cover all
products yet, it is a start and like with so many things you
have to begin somewhere and start the momentum.
Many products do have the recycling symbol on the
packaging, so look for these as well and they may well be
something that can be recycled via the local authority
collecDons.
Leather Products
Many companies are looking at low carbon leather for collars
and leads. This means UK sourced and focussing on raw
hides as a by product from the meat industry. Many
companies do follow sustainable techniques as part of the