Are you looking to make a change to your dog’s diet so you can feed them balanced and fresh meals in a way that doesn’t have a negative impact on the planet?
There’s a growing acceptance that we need to do more to protect the environment for future generations as we unite to combat big issues such as climate change.
For many dog owners, it’s important to find a dog food company who are creating healthy pet food free from nasties using ingredients that our responsibly sourced.
The good news is that there are some dog food companies who have embraced this challenge, adopting an approach to pet nutrition that leaves a low carbon footprint.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best dog food for sustainability in the USA right now so you can leave a green paw print on the world.
We’ll examine three dog food companies who have adopted a unique approach to the way they create their vet-approved meals for planet-loving dog owners.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as veterinary, medical or professional advice. The content of our articles does not constitute veterinary advice. It’s always best to speak with your vet or a certified pet nutritionist before making any changes to your pet's diet or feeding routine.
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Best Dog Food For Sustainability USA
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spot & Tango |
|
• Locally Sourced Ingredients • Recyclable Packaging • No Additives Or Nasties | Buy Now | |
| Open Farm Pet |
|
• Ethically Sourced • Full Transparency • Wide Range | Buy Now | |
| Chippin |
|
• Low Carbon Print • Plastic Neutral • Vet Approved | Buy Now |
Why Sustainability Is Important
You may be accustomed to feeding your dog store-bought dog food without really thinking about the ingredients that go into your canine companion’s food.
If you haven’t paid attention to the ingredient’s label, you likely haven’t really thought about the manufacturing process and the impact it could have on our planet’s health.
According to an article in The Guardian in 2018, pet food is responsible for a quarter of the environmental impacts of meat production in terms of the use of land, water, fossil fuels, phosphates and pesticides.
While pet parents are starting to embrace the idea of ditching big-name kibble brands at the supermarket in favour of fresh dog food that is made using high quality meat and human-grade ingredients, The Guardian believes it’s a step backwards for the environment.
There is an even greater demand for human-grade meat now that we want to ensure our furry friends are getting a premium diet.
You may have noticed the increase of dog food companies who are offering meat alternatives as the pet food industry embrace vegetarian and vegan options for dogs (that are intended to be fed alongside meat diets).
As pet parents, there’s an onus on us to make sure we do our research and familiarise ourselves with the sustainable practises of dog food companies that we use to fuel our four-legged friends.
Things We Looked For
• Where Are Ingredients Sourced From – When reading about a dog food company, you should look to see where the ingredients are sourced from. We like to see that dog food companies use local farms rather than big MNCs to provide the ingredients required to create their balanced and complete recipes.
• Produce That Is Free From Pesticides – Pesticides can be harmful to our planet. The International Atomic Energy Agency write on their website that the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and animal wastes contribute to 30% of the total greenhouse gases emissions.
• Grass-Fed, Cage-Free, Humanely Raised – If you’ve watched one of Netflix’s many documentaries on the environment or plant-based diets, you’ll already know that grass-fed (or free range/pasture-raised) animal agriculture is a method of production that can decrease carbon in the atmosphere.
• Responsibly Harvested – Usually a term used alongside fish, responsibly harvested seafood is thought to be the most environmentally efficient source of protein in the world, according to NOAA Fisheries.
• Low-emission Processing Techniques – How much energy goes into the manufacturing of pet food? Some big-name pet food brands use high-emission processing techniques to create their dry food or wet food. However, there is a fresh wave of new dog food companies who have adopted low-emission processes.
• Sustainable Proteins – Are dog food companies thinking about sustainability when it comes to the proteins that they decide to use in their food? As we’ve already touched upon above, fish is considered the most sustainable protein in the world. If they use chicken or beef, are they free range and grass fed?
• Recyclable Material And Packaging – Perhaps the easiest environmental factor to consider is the material and packaging used. Most dog food companies with even a slight sustainable approach to their business will be attempting to use as much recyclable packaging as possible.
• Donating To Environmental Causes – Some dog food companies will donate a portion of revenues to charities with a specific focus on environmental causes.
• Offsetting Carbon Omissions – Another way dog food companies can give back is by offsetting carbon omissions through the planting of trees.
Best Dog Food For Sustainability USA – Our Pick
So, now we’ve taken a look at some of the things to consider when you’re trying to find the best sustainable dog food and decide which is best for you, your dog and the planet, it’s time to take a look at our pick of the best options on the market in the USA at the moment.
1) Spot & Tango
Website: spotandtango.com
Spot & Tango Unkibble (Photo: Spot & Tango)
Spot & Tango are a dog food company with sustainable mantra.
They want to make it easy to feed your dog fresh, real food but not at the expense of the planet’s health.
Spot & Tango source their ingredients from local farms so there’s nothing artificial in their food, there’s no cheap fillers, no additives and no preservatives.
Spot & Tango offer human-grade fresh dog meals and their high quality UnKibble range which they’ll deliver to pet parents thanks to their flexible, regular schedule in eco-friendly packaging.
They use insulation that will dissolve in your sink so as their website puts it, you can feel good about your dog’s food and the environment.
The Pros
• Fresh Meals, UnKibble Range
• Customised For Your Dog
• No Additives Or Nasties
• Recyclable Packaging
• Dissolvable Insulation
• Flexible Deliveries
The Cons
• Premium Price
What Customers Are Saying
Spot & Tango have a review section on their website with some satisfied customers. While they only display glowing reviews, it’s still a good steer on how this dog food company are performing.
Ali was particularly impressed with their sustainable approach.
We have been using Spot & Tango as meal toppers for two years now. Our dog Ozzie loves it! Ozzie had grown tired of his kibble and had lost interest in eating, so we knew we needed a new approach. We wanted a product that was made from high quality, fresh ingredients and full of the proper nutrients to keep him healthy. We mix half a packet into both of his daily kibble meals. With Spot & Tango, Ozzie licks the bowl clean! We also love the sustainable, recyclable packaging.
Jean really appreciated the fact that she can recycle their packaging.
Spot and Tango is wonderful quality fresh frozen food for your treasured pet. I’m so happy I found this food for my loved, treasured Havanese. They are thriving on it and love all the recipes. And I love the quality and variety of the ingredients. I wish I had found you sooner. And I Love Love Love and appreciate the packaging. It is efficient, lightweight and completely compostable or recyclable. Thank you.
Our Verdict
Spot & Tango are a versatile dog food company who have a simple approach to pet nutrition. They have limited ingredient recipes that use meat, fruit and vegetables sourced from local farmers.
So you can support local business, the ingredients don’t leave a substantial carbon print and they’re human-grade.
Spot & Tango use recyclable packaging and dissolvable insulation and unsurprisingly, this eco-friendly approach is a big hit with dog owners in the USA.
You can find out more about their customized, natural kibble range called UnKibble in this dedicated review.
If you’re a new Spot & Tango customer you can avail of our exclusive 50% discount off your first order when you click here.
2) Open Farm Pet
Website: openfarmpet.com
Open Farm Bone Broth (Photo: Open Farm)
Open Farm have three key philosophies to their pet food business: high quality food, ethically sourced ingredients and climate strategy. This is why we consider Open Farm to be one of the most sustainable dog food companies in the USA.
Their website explains that Open Farm are committed to delivering premium nutrition that meets the highest standard of quality and care. This means using whole ingredients in their recipes that are antibiotic and growth hormone free with non-GMO fruit and vegetables.
While creating balanced, complete and fresh dog food for canines in the USA, Open Farm want to do some good by only using ethically sourced ingredients that serve a real purpose. They’re talking about chickens and turkeys raised on family farms, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb and crate-free pork.
They’re also committed to science-based decarbonization goals as outlined in their climate strategy. Open Farm’s website explains that they’re on a 10-year journey to reduce their carbon footprint. They’re also committed to offsetting emissions through high impact programs within the agricultural and forestry sectors.
Open Farm provide dog owners with a lot of flexibility thanks to their versatile dog food range – they offer fresh dog food, dry food, wet food, bone broth and freeze-dried raw food.
The Pros
• Wide Dog Food Range
• High Quality Dog Food
• Ethically Sourced Ingredients
• Full Transparency
• No Antibiotics, No Growth Hormones, Non-GMO
• Climate Strategy
The Cons
• Premium Price
What Customers Are Saying
Open Farm have a range of products for sale on their website, in stores and on Amazon. For the purposes of this feature, we’ll take a look at what customers have to say about Open Farm’s Catch-Of-The-Day which get 4.7 stars out of 5 on the product page on the online retailer.
Colman really appreciated that Open Farm have values that match his values as a vegan.
As a vegan, this dog food is super important to me. It is the only dog food on the market (that I’ve found) that has incredibly strict and measured regulations on the humane treatment and life quality of the farm animals. In a perfect world my dogs wouldn’t require meat in their diet but they do. So this is a choice that I can make and not feel terribly guilty that my money is funding the abuse and misery of animals that are 100% equal and worthy of compassion and quality of life as my dogs. Added bonus: the sustainable farms that are sourced have a much lighter impact on the environment which is another perk. And my dogs love it!
Lisa believes Open Farm’s premium pet food is worth every penny.
Well, my dog loves it and I love it because it is as close to humanely sourced dog food as I can find. I wish all you paleo types, vegetarians and vegans out there who care about the treatment of animals would consider that the animals inside their pet food bags and cans may have been factory farmed and dish out the extra bucks to support pet food suppliers who humanely raise and slaughter the animals our pets eat.
Our Verdict
Open Farm Grass Fed Beef (Photo: Open Farm)
If you’re looking for dog food that uses protein humanely raised and responsibly sourced, you can’t go wrong with Open Farm.
They provide humanely sourced pet food for dogs in the USA to not only take care of our canine companions and their dietary needs but also ensure they’re doing their utmost to look after the planet.
Open Farm have a range of different options for pet parents to choose from, whether you want fresh meals, dry food, wet food, freeze-dried raw or bone broth. You can mix up your dog’s meals to keep them motivated at mealtime.
Their website goes into great detail about the philosophy as a company, shedding light on how they believe in premium nutrition for pets, using ethically sourced ingredients and adhering to their climate strategy. Open Farm’s dog food will make both you and your pup feel good!
3) Chippin
Website: chippinpet.com
Chippin are a dog food company in the USA that provide high quality food and treats with a low carbon pawprint.
Their website explains that Chippin’s food is powered by planet friendly proteins, such as spirulina (infinitely renewable), cricket (no methane emissions) and silver carp (zero input protein).
Pet parents will be reassured to know that Chippin create human-grade dog food that is hypoallergenic and developed with help from vets and PhDs.
Chippin partner with small to medium-sized farms to directly source sustainable, humanely harvested protein.
Furthermore, Chippin store their dog food in post consumer recycled packaging, doing their bit to decrease plastic pollution that ends up in landfills, waterways and drinking water.
While Chippin have certainly embraced a sustainable approach to their dog food, they’ve also created healthy and tasty oven-baked dog food that provides an Omega-3 Boost and 10 essential amino acids.
The Pros
• Low carbon pawprint
• Earth-friendly
• Human-grade And Hypoallergenic
• Omega-3
• 10 amino acids
• Oven-baked
• Plastic neutral
• Vet approved
The Cons
• Premium price
• One Recipe
What Customers Are Saying
Chippin has a review section under their Silver Carp dog food on their website. Of the 50 reviews displayed, 48 pet parents give a five-star review of their high quality, planet-friendly dog food.
Lissa expressed her delight at being able to feed her dog healthy meals and look after the planet.
Our pup, a 65-lb Pitbull Terrier mix (and a very sweet one at that) gobbles up this food whereas he seemed more reluctant with other kinds of fish-based foods from other brands. We really appreciate being able to contribute to more sustainably feeding our population, both human and dog!
Leah underlined why she believes Chippin are doing a fantastic job.
This food is great. All aspects of it – the fact that there are no hidden ingredients that you would not feed yourself, the support for local farmers, and for me, the carbon pawprint is fantastic. I have spent my whole life concerned about my footprint – and now to be awakened with the knowledge of what it takes to make traditional dog food – the amount of fresh water for example – to this reliable source that is good for the pups. Chippin has really outdone themselves!
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a sustainable dog food company that can provide human-grade meals without damaging the planet, Chippin could be a good option for you.
While they only offer one dog food recipe at this time, they appear to have really mastered their craft judging by the glowing reviews from dog owners (and their dogs).
We love that Chippin have provided pet parents with the opportunity to feed balanced and complete dog food that has a low carbon footprint.
Their website clearly outlines their ethos and provides guidance and information that will give you peace of mind your dog is eating vet-approved food that is kind to your world.
You can get 20% off your first Chippin pet order by using the discount code “Paw20” and clicking this link.
Anything Else To Consider?
We’re not professional veterinarians or pet nutrition experts so we encourage our readers to speak to their local vet before making a change to your dog’s diet.
They can provide expert guidance on the best dog food for your canine companion and how to make the transition to a new type of dog food to ensure it’s a smooth switch.
Chippin, Open Farm Pet and Spot & Tango all provide guidance on how to transition your dog from their old food onto their new food – too.
Wrapping Up – Our Final Thoughts
Spot & Tango Unkibble (Photo: Spot & Tango)
We’ve reached the end of our feature on the best dog food for sustainability in the USA.
Having outlined some of the key things to look out for, we’ve selected three dog food companies that we believe offer real dog food in an eco-friendly way.
Spot & Tango offered limited-ingredient recipes contained with recyclable packaging so you can make sure your dog is getting the human-grade dog food without damaging the planet.
Chippin offer just one recipe (but do have a treats range) but have gone to great lengths to ensure they leave a minimal carbon print on the world while promoting a healthy diet for our four-legged friends.
For pet owner’s who value diversity, Open Farm have a range of different dog food options to satisfy picky eaters. They’re transparent about how their recipes are created from farm to your dog’s bowl.
