In 2017, Sir David Attenborough released Blue Planet 2, a powerful, beautiful and terrifying nature documentary. With this, he has placed the devastating impact of single-use plastic and climate change into the forefront of the nation's mind. In turn, creating an increased demand for sustainable and ethical products.
Environmental issues which were once brushed under the carpet have gone mainstream, with unprecedented media coverage. The build-up to this point was long, slow and arduous for anyone who campaigned for sustainability and against single-use plastic. These individuals played a huge part to get us to where we are today.
Now we walk along shop aisles to find disruptor brands using compostable packaging, filled with ethical and sustainable ingredients. They are battling it out for shelf space that was previously dominated by unsustainable products from industry dinosaurs. There’s still a long way to go, but it’s moving in the right direction.
While researching the launch of their wet food, Beco, the ethical and sustainable pet brand, found that the mass market now looking for the same when purchasing for their dogs.
A survey of Beco’s customers found that sustainably sourced ingredients were one of the top three elements owners looked when choosing their dog’s diet, along with grain free recipes and recyclable packaging. Over 40% of the dog parents involved in the survey consider these three features a top priority when choosing their dog’s food.
Beco is one of the challenger brands offering healthy, ethical and sustainable products, keeping dogs happy while reducing their impact on the planet.
In 2018, the UK spent £1.7 billion on dog food. With the majority of pet food manufactured using mystery meat or meat meal, this protein source tends to be made from untraceable meat and fish. The public is now demanding guarantees on the ethics and sustainability of their dog’s diet.
George, Beco’s founder, said “it’s always been difficult to tell what is in our dog’s food with industry specific terminology and carefully worded ingredients. It’s encouraging to see that people are now demanding more from their dog food manufacturers in terms of quality, traceability and sustainability. We are happy to be answering their call.”
Since 2013, there has been a 7.4% increase in premium pet foods in the UK. The global organisations who have dominated the pet food market for decades have been re-branding their catalogue in an attempt to stay relevant to this new wave of conscious pet owners.
Beco is one of the brands taking on the industry giants. In doing so, they have created a new category for healthy dog food that is based around the traceability, ethics and sustainability of ingredients.
What does ethical mean?
Ethical means wild where possible and farmed with respect. Longer lives in stress-free environments.
What does sustainable mean?
Sustainable means sourcing low-carbon ingredients as locally as possible and fishing responsibly without damaging marine eco-systems.
What is sustainable packaging?
Sustainable packaging harnesses the latest technologies to be made from renewable resources. It is 100% recyclable and can be transported efficiently to reduce the number of trucks on the road.
Beco Pets have expanded their current natural dog food range by launching a wet food. They only use healthy, ethical and sustainable ingredients packaged in tetra pack, one of the most sustainable forms of packaging available today. They have created a nutritious diet for dogs that reduces their impact on the planet.
