The pet food industry has received unkind remarks as to the true origin of its ingredients (原料) for decades. Now the industry faces another source of criticism as a new book starts a debate about the environmental impact of owning a well-fed pet.
The New Scientist magazine, in a recent editorial, largely agreed with the book’s findings that some pets, due to the food they eat, have a surprisingly high “ecological footprint”, which is a way of quantifying human demand on the planet’s ecosystems using a measure called “global hectares”.
According to the authors of the book, “A shocking comparison is that in 2004, the average citizen of some poor countries had an eco-footprint of 0.76 hectares. The eco-footprint of a cat is about 0.15 hectares, almost the same as what is needed to run a small car. In a world where resources are already limited, can people really justify keeping pets that require more than some people?”
The authors of the book say that they were “genuinely surprised” when calculating the environmental impact of pets. And some of the ideas they put forward to attenuate this are likely to shock some pet owners. For example, the book suggests catching pests such as field mice and processing them into a “natural” cat food, or raising pets like chickens that provide both company and fresh eggs. When feeding a pet, however, the advice is to favour pet foods made from chicken meat, which is less damaging to the environment than red meat and fish.
As you might expect, the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) puts up a spirited defence, arguing that the vast majority of meat and fish used in pet foods is of sufficient quality for human consumption but more than humans need. “If we didn’t recycle animal by-products to sell, they might instead be abandoned and buried under the earth, which is not very green,” says the director. In addition, he points out that pets should not be viewed just on their carbon footprint. “Our environment is greatly enriched by the part they play in our lives. Pets in the home inspire responsibility, encourage social awareness and have positive health benefits.”

What is suggested in the book to make pet food production greener?