Since the Radnor and Tredyffrin Township's new bag ordinance will go into effect this Wednesday (3/15/23), we wanted to share with you how the pet industry is doing its part to become more sustainable as well.

As pet owners, we all want to make sure that our furry friends are being taken care of in the best possible way. When it comes to the products that we use for our pets, sustainability is an important part of making sure that we’re taking care of our planet as well. That’s why the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) is teaming up with brands to create sustainable pet products—so that both people and their pets can enjoy a better, healthier lifestyle.

What Is The Pet Sustainability Coalition?

The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating sustainable solutions for pet businesses and organizations. Founded in 2011, PSC works with brands and companies throughout the pet industry to create more sustainable practices for their business operations. This includes everything from sourcing sustainable materials to developing eco-friendly packaging solutions. The goal is to reduce their environmental footprint while still providing quality products and services for consumers. In addition to partnering with brands, PSC also works with other nonprofits and government agencies to promote sustainability in the pet industry. They offer resources such as education programs, research initiatives, and networking opportunities designed to help educate pet owners about sustainability issues and encourage them to adopt more eco-friendly practices in their own homes.

PSC Areas of Focus

Sustainable Packaging

In 2018, PSC's packaging solutions took center stage and they became a driving force in uniting the pet industry around sustainable packaging practices. From helping members on their packaging journey to piloting Flex Forward, the pet industry's first return-to-retail program; from establishing UnPacked, the bi-annual summit dedicated exclusively to packaging innovation and sustainability goals, to launching PSC Packaging Pledge - a cooperative effort aiming at meeting ambitious transparent forward facing objectives: our work encompasses many programs.

Sustainable Proteins

The protein sources in pet food have a tremendous effect on global health and the well-being of both people and animals. Through strategic collaborations with nutritionists, animal welfare professionals, environmental scientists and veterinarians, the Pet Sustainability Coalition is ushering in cutting-edge science. By utilizing the most up-to-date science and expertise, PSC can maximize how pet food products select their protein ingredients. This enables us to not only sustain healthy pets, but also stimulate regeneration of agricultural lands, better the quality of life for sourcing communities worldwide, and make our ethical responsibilities to all animals a priority. Not only do they promote individual companies to make more sustainable decisions, but they are also making great strides towards restructuring the industry in order to provide an abundance of transparent, traceable and eco-friendly proteins.

Below you can see the Four Factor Framework modeled by PSC to help the pet industry understand how to achieve sustainability.

PSC in Action!

One example of how PSC has helped create a more sustainable product is by teaming up with WellPet Company, the makers of Wellness Natural Pet Food, to develop a biodegradable dog food bag made entirely out of plant-based materials. This new bag uses 30% less plastic than traditional bags which helps reduce waste while still providing an effective way for customers to store and transport their food. Additionally, these bags are also certified compostable which means they will break down quickly in landfills or compost piles without releasing harmful toxins into the environment. WellPet isn’t the only company working with PSC; there are dozens of other brands across different sectors of the pet industry that have adopted sustainable practices thanks to PSC’s work. From bedding manufacturers using recycled fabric scraps for stuffing materials to toy companies designing toys made out of reclaimed rubber tires, these partnerships have helped create a more eco-friendly future for all kinds of pet products.

PSC Approved Brands that Braxton's Carries

  • Earth Animal

  • Wellness Pet Company

  • West Paw

  • Champion Pet Foods

  • Instinct Pet Foods

  • Kong

  • Primal Pet Foods Inc.

  • Stella & Chewy's

  • Smallbatch Pet Food

  • Nutri Source Pet Food

  • Annamaet Pet Foods

  • The Natural Dog Company

  • Bocce's Treats

  • Boxie Cat Cat Litter

  • Earthbath Grooming Supplies

  • Earth Rated Poop Bags

  • Mammoth Toys

  • Nulo Pet Foods

  • Outward Hound Toys

  • Oxbow Small Animal Products

  • The Honest Kitchen

  • Weruva Pet Food

All in all, it's clear that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important part of how pet owners shop for their fur babies' needs—and organizations like PSC are helping make this possible by teaming up with brands across different sectors of the industry. By providing education programs alongside practical solutions such as biodegradable packaging materials, PSC is helping ensure that people can provide quality care for their pets without compromising on sustainability goals. With this kind of support from organizations like PSC, we can look forward to even more innovative ways that brands can create eco-friendly products in the future!