Nestlé Purina has unveiled six new commitments, dedicated to improving the life and wellbeing of pets, people and the health of our planet.
Purina recognises that more impactful and ambitious measures are needed to respond to today’s societal and environmental challenges.
The 6 commitments have been developed using a formal materiality assessment and reviewed to ensure that the company operates within the planetary boundaries in which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. They have also been designed to address key social impact areas outlined in the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This process has enabled Purina to define the commitments and set key targets.
The new commitments build on Purina’s core strength in providing high-quality nutrition for pets, whilst tackling wider societal and environmental issues. This includes improving the health of people in vulnerable situations through the power of the pet-human bond and accelerating the transition towards Net Zero and regenerative food systems.
Purina will also be working to help advance the regeneration of soil and ocean ecosystems by shifting to restorative, circular systems to help regenerate both the ocean and land. This includes decreasing the excess nitrogen and phosphorus from use of fertilisers, supporting seagrass and seaweed restoration projects to absorb carbon emissions and chemical run-off, promoting greater biodiversity and deacidification of the oceans.
The announcement took place during a virtual event today – The BetterWithPets Forum 2022 (BWP Forum) – broadcasted live from Purina’s studio in Barcelona. It brings together more than 330 stakeholders from 20 different countries.
BetterWithPets Prize 2022
The substantive and mutual benefits of the pet-human bond are well-documented, including its ability to increase happiness, promote wellbeing and encourage feelings of security and social inclusion.
As mental and physical health are key priorities for the UN SDG’s, Purina assessed their ability to positively impact this area through the power of the pet-human bond, with the inclusion of its first people focused commitment. The introduction of a social dimension builds on Purina’s belief that when people and pets bond, life becomes richer, especially for the most vulnerable of society. As such, Purina aims to support 1,000,000 people in vulnerable situations by improving their health and wellbeing through the power of the pet-human bond.
To help scale the impact of this commitment, Purina announced yesterday the launch and evolution of its BetterWithPets Prize 2022, an award for impactful organisations who leverage the power of the pet human bond to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations. The sourcing of official applications will start in January 2023.
Jeff Hamilton, CEO, Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe said: “Every single day we work to create richer lives for pets and the people who love them. Nutrition has always been at the heart of what we do, but we want to go further and do more of what matters for pets, the people who love them and the planet we inhabit.
"We recognise that we are at a defining moment. And that requires us to step up to restore a healthy planet, support a more equitable society and improve the lives of our pets. That’s why we at Purina Europe have set these bold and ambitious commitments.
"To reach Net Zero and support the halt of biodiversity loss, we must accelerate our regeneration journey in pet food and advance positive change through collaboration with those working alongside us in our supply chain.
As a pet owner myself, I know first-hand how important the pet-human bond can be, and I am proud that we are able to support people in vulnerable situations through this unique relationship between people and pets.”
