Plant-Based Dog Treats: Good for Pets and Carbon Footprint

(Photo : Photo: Marek Szturc / Unsplash)

Clif Pet was created by the Clif Bar company, one of the top manufacturers of energy bars for people. Three different flavors of jerky-style dog treats made from plants are available for dogs. There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in their seven-ingredient composition. According to researchers, the product also reduces the carbon footprint of pet food.

Test dogs performed numerous acrobatics and tricks to obtain some of the jerky because they were so impressed with it.

The jerky is delicate and simple to cut into small pieces. It comes in flavors like pumpkin and apple, sweet potato and blueberry, as well as butternut squash and cranberry and has a fruity and earthy aroma.

Greg Lok, the head of the incubator at Clif Bar & Company, claims that since the business was founded three decades ago, pets have played a significant role. The company allowed dogs in the office, and staff members have long pushed for the creation of pet products.

The market for pet products has continued to expand as over 11 million US homes have added pets as a result of the pandemic.

According to Lok, their team believes that now is the ideal time to introduce Clif Pet due to the pet parents' preference for straightforward, easily understood ingredients. With this launch, Clif Bar hopes to uplift and excite the entire family because, according to them, life's adventures are much more enjoyable when shared with a furry friend.

Environmental Impacts of Pet Food

The precise impact that and dogs cats have on the environment is unknown to researchers. According to a 2017 study, between 25% and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions associated with animal production may be attributable to dogs and cats.

According to the study, that equals 64 million tons of nitrous oxide and methane and gasses with a carbon dioxide equivalent.

Although the researchers noted that Americans are the world's biggest pet owners, the custom of pet ownership in the US comes at a high cost. Pet ownership will intensify the environmental effects of people's dietary choices as pet ownership rises in some developing nations, particularly China, and trends in pet food continue toward higher meat content and quality worldwide.

Some producers have responded to environmental concerns by deciding on more environmentally friendly options like insect and plant ingredients.

Clif Pet jerky was developed with the help of a pet nutritionist with an eye toward sustainability and nutrition.

Lok says that its treats contain only ingredients that make sense to be there. They sought to produce a healthy treat that dog owners could give their pet. Above all, intentionally made foods are healthier for people, different communities, and the environment, all of which were taken into account.

The market for pet products such as vitamins & supplements for dogs has continued to expand as over 11 million US homes have added pets as a result of the pandemic.

Read also: Chewy Declines Returned Pet Food, Surprises Grieving Pet Owner Instead 

Petco, Clif Bar & Company

The company claims that Petco is the very first as well as the only national retailer to discontinue selling any food or treats containing artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

As a health and wellness company, Petco is dedicated to enhancing the lives of pets, and excellent nutrition and ingredient transparency are crucial to advancing this goal, according to Shari Gordon White, the senior vice president of merchandising at Petco.

The business pledged in 2018 to stop selling dog and cat food and treats with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Since then, the company has developed its product lineup and partnered with organizations that share its values as well as purpose-driven mission, such as Clif Bar & Company, Treehugger reports.

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