Podcast: Making Sense of Sustainability in Pet Food

“Eco-friendly.” “Responsibly sourced.” “Environmentally conscious.” Pet food packages are filled with sustainability language, but understanding what those promises actually mean, and whether they are supported by evidence, is rarely simple. 

In this episode of Barking Mad Podcast, hosts Jordan Tyler and Dr. Stephanie Clark are joined by Allison Reser Hamburger of the Pet Sustainability Coalition and Paul Shapiro, co-founder and CEO of The Better Meat Co., to unpack the tradeoffs of sustainable pet care. Together, they challenge assumptions surrounding claims like “natural,” “human grade,” and “high protein,” explore the potential of mycoprotein and other alternative ingredients, examine why newer sustainable products often cost more, and why consumers should look for measurable goals and transparent progress rather than perfection. 

What You’ll Learn 🔍 

• Why sustainability feels so hard, why it often costs more, and how to reconcile the two 

• Why broad terms like “green,” “natural,” and “eco-friendly” don’t actually tell you anything about a product’s sustainability 

• Why byproducts and alternative proteins will play an important role in a more sustainable pet food system 

• Which questions pet parents can ask brands and retailers to identify meaningful sustainability efforts 

Tune in today to learn how better questions, informed decisions, and realistic expectations can help pet parents support progress while encouraging companies to make sustainable choices more transparent, effective, and accessible. 

🎧 Find Barking Mad on the BSM Partners website, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and Podlink. Follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to join the conversation! 

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About the Author

Jordan Tyler is the Director of Media at BSM Partners and co-host of the Barking Mad podcast. She has more than seven years of experience reporting on trends, best practices and developments in the North American pet nutrition industry. Jordan resides in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and their three furry family members.