Does your dog's food make a difference to the environment? Research into vegan dog food shows that the answer is yes, especially when compared to beef or lamb-based food. We cover the most important questions: how much agricultural land, how much CO2, and why brands are less likely to use words like 'sustainable' these days. By the way, all VerdaDog products are 100% vegan.
Is vegan dog food better for the environment than meat-based food?
Yes, research into the environmental impact of dog food shows that plant-based formulas perform better in several areas than formulas based on beef or lamb. An analysis of 31 dry foods purchased in British supermarkets compared land use, greenhouse gas emissions, acidifying and eutrophying emissions, and freshwater consumption per 1,000 kcal (Brociek & Gardner, 2025). On all five of these points, the plant-based food scored lower than the meat-based variants. The study was independently funded by a UK research council, with no ties to the pet food industry. Below, we look at the concrete figures. Curious about the nutritional value of plant-based dog food? Read our article on how digestible plant-based proteins are for a dog.
How much agricultural land does vegan dog food require compared to meat-based food?
Plant-based dog food requires approximately 2.7 square meters of agricultural land per 1,000 kcal, compared to 102 square meters for beef-based food and 111 square meters for lamb-based food (Brociek & Gardner, 2025). That is roughly forty times as much land for beef-based food as for the plant-based variant, per the same amount of energy. Land use is closely linked to deforestation and loss of biodiversity, which makes this difference relevant beyond your dog's direct footprint. The figures relate to this specific study of British dry foods; the exact ratio may differ per brand and recipe.
How much CO2 does vegan dog food save compared to meat-based food?
Plant-based dog food corresponds to approximately 2.8 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per 1,000 kcal, compared to 31.5 kilograms for beef-based food and 12.9 kilograms for lamb-based food (Brociek & Gardner, 2025). In this study, beef-based food emitted more than eleven times as many greenhouse gases as the plant-based variant. The plant-based food also scored better on acidifying emissions (7.1 times higher for beef) and eutrophying emissions (16.4 times higher for beef). This refers to the dog food production chain in general, not a statement about one specific product: the researchers compared commercially available dry foods in the United Kingdom.
Why do brands no longer simply call their dog food 'sustainable' or 'environmentally friendly'?
From September 27, 2026, stricter rules against greenwashing will apply across the EU, as laid down in Directive (EU) 2024/825 (European Union, 2024). Companies may no longer simply use vague environmental terms such as 'sustainable', 'environmentally friendly', or 'eco' without substantiating them with concrete, evidence-based data. That is why we choose to refer to specific research with measurable figures, such as land use and CO2 emissions per 1,000 kcal, instead of using general terms. This way, as a dog owner, you know exactly what a claim is based on, rather than having to rely on a label.
Does meat make a big environmental difference even with a small dog or a small bag of food?
Yes, the difference per 1,000 kcal applies regardless of your dog's size: a small dog simply eats fewer kcal per day, but the ratio between plant-based food and meat-based food remains the same (Brociek & Gardner, 2025). For a large, active dog, the difference in absolute figures is greater because more food is needed. Would you like to get an impression of the difference yourself without immediately purchasing a full bag? You can do so with a small bag as an initial introduction. More questions about switching or our products? Check out our frequently asked questions.
Curious about how your dog likes vegan dog food? Order the 150-gram sample bag via our dry dog food collection and discover it for yourself.
Written by Team VerdaDog. This article is based on scientific research. We do not provide veterinary advice: if you have questions about your dog's health, please consult your veterinarian.
Sources
Brociek, R. A., & Gardner, D. S. (2025). Environmental impact of feeding plant-based vs. meat-based dry dog foods in the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, Article 1633312. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1633312
European Union. (2024). Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2024 amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information. EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/825/oj
