{"id":2596,"date":"2020-07-15T16:13:48","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T14:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.appetizerblog.com\/?p=2596"},"modified":"2024-06-21T16:21:33","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:21:33","slug":"life-cycle-assessment-how-to-measure-pet-food-environmental-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.appetizerblog.com\/en\/life-cycle-assessment-how-to-measure-pet-food-environmental-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Life cycle assessment:
How to measure pet food environmental impact"},"content":{"rendered":"
Life Cycle Assessment is a standardized method to evaluate the impact of a product on the environment during its whole life. From the identification of the impacts to the calculation of an environmental score, this complete analysis enables manufacturers to develop pet foods that meet pet parents\u2019 desire for sustainability.<\/div>\n

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\u201c85% of French pet owners say they are interested in the environmental score of the pet food they buy*!\u201d<\/div>\n

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Like many consumers, pet owners are increasingly concerned about sustainability. They particularly care about the provenance and environmental impact of pet food products.<\/p>\n

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Pet food manufacturers committed to meeting consumer ethical expectations must not only limit the effects generated by the manufacturing process but also control the environmental impact of their products from the extraction of raw materials to the end-of-life of the packaging.<\/p>\n

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Life Cycle Assessment is THE tool to identify and measure all of a product\u2019s environmental impacts, from beginning to end.<\/p>\n

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It enables calculation of footprint profiles and scores that can be used to compare pet food products based on their environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n

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Applicable to all types of products, Life Cycle Assessment is an essential starting point to address environmental issues and build a relevant sustainable policy.<\/p>\n

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What is Life Cycle Assessment? How is Life Cycle Assessment performed for pet food? <\/strong>Follow the guidelines!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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*Yummypets, 225 french pet owners , Survey 2019<\/h5>\n

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Life Cycle Assessment: a normalized method to measure product impact on the environment<\/h2>\n

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\"\"<\/a>A Life Cycle Assessment aims to evaluate the environmental impacts<\/strong> of a product or a service. This is a normalized method, described in the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 norms.<\/p>\n

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Using mathematical models<\/strong>, Life Cycle Assessment can ultimately lead to calculation of an environmental score<\/strong>\u00a0that can be used to compare the sustainability performance of several products having the same functionality.<\/p>\n

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What makes Life Cycle Assessment a unique tool is that it studies environmental impact \u201cfrom the cradle to the grave.<\/strong>\u201d Besides effects generated during manufacturing, the Life Cycle Assessment method considers product impacts on the environment during its entire existence, from raw materials to disposal.<\/p>\n

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This is a broad and deep approach to sustainability.<\/p>\n

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Life cycle assessment:<\/strong> Compilation and evaluation of the inputs, outputs, and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle (source: PEFCRs).<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Life Cycle Assessment in pet food: follow the Product Environmental Footprint guidelines<\/h2>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Currently, no international organization is dedicated to pet food sustainability. However, the Product Environmental Footprint<\/strong> (PEF) group, part of the European Commission, is working on environmental guidelines based on the Life Cycle Assessment approach for many product categories.<\/p>\n

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The organization gathers several working groups from around 20 sectors such as automobile, drinks, textiles, and pet food.<\/p>\n

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Leaded by FEDIAF<\/a>, the pet food working group is composed of key international, European, and national participants from the pet food industry.<\/p>\n

In 2018 they published a document that provides detailed and comprehensive technical guidance on how to conduct a Life Cycle Assessment study in pet food: the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCRs)<\/a> for prepared pet food for cats and dogs.<\/p>\n

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This guide is a helpful and practical reference for pet food manufacturers who want to dig deeper into the environmental impacts of their products.<\/p>\n

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Pet food Life Cycle Assessment step by step<\/h2>\n

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Pet food manufacturers wishing to evaluate the environmental performance of their products using Life Cycle Assessment must know upfront: the process might be long and complex. But it\u2019s worth it!<\/p>\n

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Below is an overview of the main steps to follow according to the ISO norms and the PEFCRs guide.<\/p>\n

\"Main<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ask for help<\/h3>\n

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The first thing to do before conducting a Life Cycle Assessment is probably to ask for help\u2026<\/p>\n

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To successfully conduct a precise environmental study without getting lost in the multiple flows and impacts evaluation, consulting is more than recommended; it\u2019s indispensable.<\/p>\n

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Life Cycle Assessment specialists bring a methodology and databases. They can assist manufacturers in the following ways:<\/p>\n

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