Plant-Powered Pups: New Study Shows Dramatic Environmental Gains From Plant-Based Dog Food in the UK25.9.2025 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / September 25, 2025 / A new life cycle assessment of 31 dry dog foods in the UK reveals that plant-based diets consistently outperform meat-based alternatives across every major environmental measure. Conducted by University of Nottingham veterinary researchers Rebecca Brociek and Professor David Gardner, and published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, the study underscores a major opportunity for pet owners and the pet food industry to shrink their ecological "pawprint." Key Results Greenhouse gas emissions: Plant-based foods produced just 2.82 kg CO₂-eq per 1,000 kcal, compared to 31.47 kg for beef-based formulas - over ten times higher. Land use: Plant-based diets required 2.73 m² per 1,000 kcal, versus 102.15 m² for beef-based products. Water use: Plant-based options consumed 249 L of freshwater per 1,000 kcal, far less than beef (575 L) or lamb (684 L). Nutrient and acidification pollution: Beef-based diets generated 14-16 times more acidifyin