Every day, we make choices that directly affect our environmental impact as individuals. From choosing to drive an electric car or ride a bike to work, to setting up recycling or composting stations at home, we can all do our part to reduce carbon emissions and limit waste.
At Purina, we know we also have a role to play in protecting the environment at every phase of our operations, which includes 21 factories across North America. That’s why the company is pursuing a more sustainable future - from farm to pet food bowl. Committing to finding renewable resources in every step of the process, and reducing Purina’s footprint, is at the forefront of our decisions. Here are a few ways we’re putting this priority into action:
Walk the Talk
- We are working with farmers to encourage regenerative agricultural practices and support conservation practices on farmlands where key ingredients for our pet foods are grown. Purina partners directly with climate smart agriculture organizations like Truterra that works directly with farmers and their trusted crop advisors to encourage adoption of regenerative agriculture stewardship practices. Truterra has an insights tool, which provides farmers with actionable changes that can demonstrate potential crop outcomes, allowing the farmer to make better informed financial and operational decisions.
- At each Purina factory, we have identified solutions and improved processes to minimize waste and water usage along the production process. We are also using renewable electricity in all of our factories with a goal to have all our operations following suit by 2025.
- When it comes to sustainable packaging, Purina is focused on working together with others to tackle big challenges, like influencing recycling infrastructure so that more recyclable materials can be recycled. Today, more than 80% of our packaging is recycle ready in North America, and our goal is to make 100% of Purina’s pet food packaging recycle ready or reusable by 2025.
More Ways to Decrease Waste
I recently had the chance to exchange ideas with Jenna Helwig, food director at Real Simple. She provided some helpful insights about her efforts to reduce waste in her family’s kitchen. She asked me about the environmental impact of the food we give to our pets. If you want to know more about Purina’s efforts (and get some helpful tips for what to do with those extra veggie and herb scraps) check out our interview.
