Paving the way for a more sustainable dog food industry

About 25% of factory-farmed animal protein in the United States is consumed by dogs and cats each year, and Petaluma is on a mission to reduce that percentage. Garrett Wymore and Caroline Buck created Petaluma in 2019 after struggling to find dog food that puts their pets and the planet in equal priority.

Petaluma brought its baked formula to market in 2021 after two years of research and development, and launched a single-ingredient jerky less than a year later. The Oakland-based company has since garnered a loyal following through direct-to-consumer and third-party e-commerce channels, and Petaluma just made its retail debut in partnership with Erewhon Market in January.

As one of the only B Corp certified companies in all pet categories, Petaluma challenges the status quo by providing science-backed dog nutrition that is less harmful to the environment and without dependence on factory-farmed animal proteins. I recently caught up with Garrett to learn more about Petaluma's goal to radically change dog food as we know it for the good of the planet.

Christopher Marquis: What inspired you to create Petaluma? How is Petaluma different from other sustainable dog food companies? Who do you hope to reach with Petaluma?

Garrett Wymore: After years of working in the conventional pet food industry, I have seen how environmentally harmful and inhumane this category can be. Our love for our two rescue dogs has fueled our passion for animal welfare and motivated us to create an alternative in the pet food industry that prioritizes both the welfare of animals and the planet. With pets being treated like cherished members of the family, we see a growing opportunity to bring sustainable and ethical options to the forefront of the pet food market.

The main environmental issue in canine nutrition is the resource intensity and greenhouse gas emissions of ingredients, especially animal protein. Using peer-reviewed research and available data, we found that dog nutrition must largely eliminate animal-derived ingredients to be sustainable at the scale required to properly feed hundreds of millions of dogs. dogs. Although there are other approaches to reducing the demand for animal protein, including insects, invasive animal species, and lab-grown meat, we have focused on plants because we believe they have the best path. clearer towards our goals of product quality, acceptance and sustainability. Vegetable proteins have a long track record of nutritional quality and safety in dog food, are immediately competitive with animal proteins and require considerably fewer resources for their production.

We've worked closely with veterinary nutritionists to ensure that our formula not only meets AAFCO guidelines, but also reduces environmental impact. In July 2021, we launched our Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato flavor, followed by our Sweet Potato Jerky, after two years of rigorous research and development. We're proud to be a member of Climate Neutral Certified, 1% for the Planet, and a Certified B Corp, making us one of the few pet food brands in the United States to meet to these high standards.

Our customers range from plant users to omnivores looking to reduce their impact on the environment; treating animal protein allergies; or simply provide their dogs with healthy, organic and complete food. Regardless of personal nutritional preferences, Petaluma offers a solution for pet owners who put the well-being of their dogs and the planet first.

How does Petaluma's environmental impact compare to conventional dog food brands? Why should consumers care about the environmental impact of the pet food industry?

We conduct Life Cycle Assessments of our products to accurately quantify our total environmental impact, which is important as a B Corp certified and climate neutral company. An 18-pound bag of Petaluma, for example, conserves 2,200 gallons of fresh water (equivalent to two months of showers), avoids 5,300 square feet of land use impact (the worth of two tennis courts ) and reduces 185 pounds of CO2 emissions (the same as driving 200 miles in a car) compared to a typical bag of dog food of the same size. Our 12 ounce bag of Sweet Potato Jerky also saves 185 gallons of fresh water, 8 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and 120 square feet of land use impact compared to a jerky made with chicken.

As a $30 billion industry that buys over 17 billion pounds of agricultural products in...