12 Pet Brands That Specialize in Sustainability and a Circular Economy – Sierra Club

 

Report on Sustainable Practices in the Pet Product Industry

Introduction

The pet care industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by consumer demand for sustainability, directly addressing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A growing number of companies are moving away from traditional linear models characterized by excessive waste and single-use plastics. Instead, they are adopting circular economy principles that prioritize waste reduction, resource efficiency, and responsible sourcing. This report analyzes the practices of several brands that are actively contributing to a more sustainable pet economy, with a particular focus on their alignment with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as well as related goals concerning food waste, community well-being, and environmental protection.

Analysis of Corporate Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

Portland Pet Food Company

This company exemplifies a localized approach to the circular economy, contributing to multiple SDGs.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The company upcycles food waste into premium pet treats. In 2024, it diverted 13,000 pounds of spent barley malt grains from landfills. It also utilizes “ends and pieces” from meat vendors and cosmetically imperfect produce.
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By creating value from food industry byproducts, the company directly addresses Target 12.3, which aims to halve per capita global food waste.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Partnerships with local breweries, farms, and vendors strengthen the local economy and create a sustainable community-based supply chain.
• Packaging Waste Reduction: An alliance with TerraCycle provides a take-back program for packaging, ensuring it is fully recycled and contributing to Target 12.5 on waste reduction.

Benebone

Benebone focuses on end-of-life solutions for pet products, a critical component of SDG 12.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The company operates a recycling program that accepts used chew toys from any brand. These items are kept out of landfills and remanufactured into new products, directly supporting a circular model and waste reduction (Target 12.5).

West Paw

West Paw integrates sustainability throughout its supply chain, from sourcing to product lifecycle management.

• SDG 15: Life on Land: Ingredients are traced back to grass-fed cows on regenerative ranches, promoting sustainable land use.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The company utilizes repurposed ocean plastic in its products, helping to mitigate marine pollution.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The “Join the Loop” program allows consumers to return used toys to be remolded into new ones, creating an infinitely recyclable product line and embodying circular design principles.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The company’s investment in supply chains supports rural economies.

Weruva

Weruva addresses the challenge of hard-to-recycle packaging, a major waste stream in the pet food industry.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The Werucycle program provides a solution for multilayer pet food pouches, which are typically destined for landfills. As of 2025, the program had recycled nearly 300,000 pieces of packaging.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Recycled materials are repurposed into durable goods for public use, such as park benches and playground equipment, contributing to sustainable community infrastructure.

Real Dog Box

This subscription service is built on the principles of waste valorization and sustainable packaging.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Treats and chews are made from upcycled food industry byproducts like duck heads and pig ears. Packaging is tapeless, plastic-free, and utilizes recycled and reusable materials, minimizing waste generation (Target 12.5).

Purrniture Cat Furniture

Purrniture combines resourcefulness with social responsibility, aligning with environmental and social SDGs.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Products are crafted from surplus materials, scavenged wood, and carpeting scraps diverted from landfills.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The company actively employs special-needs adults, promoting inclusive and equitable employment.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This practice provides meaningful work and contributes to the local economy.

Wilder Harrier

The company leverages innovative and alternative ingredients to create sustainable pet food.

1. Contribution to SDG 12: Utilizes upcycled ingredients, including insect protein, brewery byproducts, and surplus produce, to reduce food waste.
2. Contribution to SDG 14: The company helps control invasive species by upcycling silver carp, which threaten native ecosystems in the Great Lakes, into fish-based pet food.
3. Waste Management: A mail-in recycling program for packaging further supports the goal of reducing landfill waste (Target 12.5).

Shameless Pets

Shameless Pets’ core mission is to combat food waste by transforming discarded ingredients into pet treats.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The brand uses ingredients like apple pulp from cideries and cosmetically imperfect produce that would otherwise be wasted, directly supporting Target 12.3.
• Transparency: The company provides clear information about its ingredients and farm partners, promoting sustainable corporate practices (Target 12.6).

The Conscious Pet

This brand operates on a hyper-local, zero-waste model that aligns with multiple climate and sustainability goals.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Surplus food is recovered from local businesses and transformed into pet treats.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: A proprietary dehydration process is powered by renewable energy.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The combination of local sourcing and renewable energy use significantly reduces the carbon footprint of its products.
• Packaging: Treats are sold in fully compostable bags, eliminating packaging waste.

Blue Toby Sustainable Pet Products

Blue Toby focuses on creating durable, long-lasting products from sustainable and recycled materials.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Dog beds are made from circular materials, including organic cotton, recycled textiles, and polyester derived from soda bottles. All manufacturing scraps are reused.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: All design and manufacturing occurs within a 100-mile radius, supporting the local economy and reducing transportation emissions.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: For every bed sold, the company donates a blanket to an animal shelter and plants a tree.

ModernBeast

ModernBeast operates with a non-profit ethos, prioritizing animal welfare and circular design.

• SDG 15: Life on Land: 100% of profits are donated to animal welfare organizations.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The company adheres to a zero-waste production model. For example, felt discards are repurposed into other toys, and dog beds are stuffed with fiber made from recycled plastic bottles.

Lil’ Archies

This company provides sustainable alternatives for everyday pet necessities.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The product line includes compostable waste bags and leashes and collars made from recycled polyester. Excess manufacturing materials are upcycled into limited-run products to minimize waste.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and solutions that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on reducing waste, recycling, and upcycling aligns with SDG 12, while other practices mentioned connect to goals concerning economic growth, environmental protection, and partnerships.

   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire piece focuses on shifting the pet economy from a “wasteful” model to a circular one. It showcases brands that reduce waste through upcycling food scraps (Portland Pet Food, Shameless Pets), recycling programs for packaging and toys (TerraCycle, Benebone, West Paw, Weruva), and using recycled materials in new products (ModernBeast, Lil’ Archies).
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article touches upon inclusive economic practices. Specifically, it mentions that Purrniture Cat Furniture “employs special-needs adults who live with disabilities,” which directly relates to promoting inclusive employment. Additionally, West Paw’s investment in supply chains that “support both rural economies” contributes to sustainable economic growth.
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water: This goal is addressed through efforts to combat marine pollution and protect aquatic ecosystems. West Paw’s initiative to create dog gear from “repurposed ocean plastic” helps reduce marine debris. Furthermore, Wilder Harrier’s practice of fishing “invasive silver carp out of US waters to help stop their spread into the Great Lakes, where they wipe out native fishing stocks” is a direct action to protect marine and freshwater biodiversity.
   • SDG 15: Life on Land: The article connects to this goal through land conservation and waste reduction that prevents landfill overuse. West Paw was founded with an eye toward “land-conservation efforts.” The diversion of waste from landfills by numerous companies mentioned (e.g., Portland Pet Food, Weruva) helps reduce land degradation.
   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article provides multiple examples of collaborations to achieve sustainability goals. Portland Pet Food partners with “local breweries” and “TerraCycle.” Weruva has a “partnership with a specialty material recovery facility.” The Conscious Pet partners with “local restaurants and other food businesses.” These alliances are crucial for creating effective circular economy models.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   The actions of the companies described in the article align with several specific SDG targets.

   • Target 12.3 (By 2030, halve per capita global food waste): This target is addressed by companies that upcycle food that would otherwise be wasted. Examples include Portland Pet Food using “spent barley malt grains,” “ends and pieces” of meat, and “oddly shaped” sweet potatoes; Shameless Pets using “apple pulp from cideries” and produce not meeting “cosmetic standards”; and The Conscious Pet recovering “surplus unused food and kitchen scraps.”
   • Target 12.5 (By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse): This is a central theme. The article details numerous recycling programs, such as Benebone’s chew toy recycling, West Paw’s “Join the Loop” program for toys, and Weruva’s “Werucycle” program for packaging. The use of recycled materials by companies like Blue Toby (soda-bottle-powered polyester) and ModernBeast (recycled fiber from plastic bottles) also directly supports this target.
   • Target 8.5 (By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all… including for persons with disabilities): The mention of Purrniture Cat Furniture employing “special-needs adults who live with disabilities” is a direct example of action toward this target.
   • Target 14.1 (By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds): West Paw’s use of “repurposed ocean plastic” in its products is a clear action aimed at reducing marine debris, which is a key component of this target.
   • Target 14.2 (By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems): Wilder Harrier’s initiative to remove invasive silver carp to protect native fish stocks in the Great Lakes ecosystem directly contributes to this target of protecting aquatic ecosystems from invasive species.
   • Target 17.17 (Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships): The article showcases multiple private-sector partnerships, such as Portland Pet Food’s alliance with TerraCycle and Wilder Harrier’s collaboration with Loop Mission, demonstrating how companies can work together to achieve sustainability outcomes.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

   • Indicator for Target 12.3/12.5 (Food and Material Waste Reduction): The article provides specific figures that serve as direct indicators of waste reduction.
     • Weight of food waste diverted: Portland Pet Food “helped divert 13,000 pounds of the nutritious, fibrous brew waste from landfills in 2024 alone.”
     • Number of packaging units recycled: Weruva “had recycled almost 300,000 pieces of pet food packaging” as of Earth Day 2025.
     • Volume of plastic repurposed: ModernBeast’s dog beds use fiber where “each pound diverts seven 7 Up bottles from landfills.”
   • Indicator for Target 8.5 (Inclusive Employment): A qualitative indicator is the stated employment policy of a company.
     • Employment of persons with disabilities: The article states that Purrniture Cat Furniture “employs special-needs adults who live with disabilities,” which serves as a direct indicator of inclusive hiring practices.
   • Indicator for Target 14.1/14.2 (Marine Protection): Progress can be measured by the use of harmful materials or the removal of threats.
     • Use of ocean plastic in products: West Paw’s creation of gear from “repurposed ocean plastic” is an indicator of marine debris being removed and repurposed.
     • Removal of invasive species: Wilder Harrier’s use of “invasive silver carp” in its pet food is an indicator of efforts to manage and control species that threaten native aquatic ecosystems.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.3: Halve per capita global food waste.	Weight of food byproducts upcycled (e.g., Portland Pet Food diverted 13,000 pounds of spent grains from landfills in 2024).
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.	Number of packaging units recycled (e.g., Weruva recycled almost 300,000 pieces); Number of plastic bottles repurposed (e.g., ModernBeast diverts 7 bottles per pound of stuffing).
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for persons with disabilities.	Stated policy of employing adults with disabilities (as practiced by Purrniture Cat Furniture).
   SDG 14: Life Below Water	14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds.	Use of repurposed ocean plastic in products (as done by West Paw).
   SDG 14: Life Below Water	14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.	Volume of invasive species removed and upcycled (e.g., Wilder Harrier’s use of invasive silver carp to protect native fish stocks).
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.	Number and type of cross-sector partnerships for sustainability (e.g., Portland Pet Food with TerraCycle; Weruva with a material recovery facility).

Source: sierraclub.org