Sustainable Pet Foods™ Ingredients
Sustainable Pet Foods™ ingredients are thoughtfully sourced according to environmental, health/nutritional, and sustainability principles. Accordingly, we can provide full ingredient disclosure without any misleading food imagery or messaging intended to make you believe a pet food is something that it's not.
What follows is a breakdown of the major (primary) ingredients in our foods, with clear definitions, and details as to how each respective ingredient meets our sustainability ethos.
Have questions or concerns about these, or any other ingredients? Be sure to review our Knowledge and FAQ sections. Still need help? Please contact us via email here.
What follows is a breakdown of the major (primary) ingredients in our foods, with clear definitions, and details as to how each respective ingredient meets our sustainability ethos.
Have questions or concerns about these, or any other ingredients? Be sure to review our Knowledge and FAQ sections. Still need help? Please contact us via email here.
ORGANIC CHICKEN
NUTRITION: Organic chicken meat, sourced in the USA. An ideal, biologically appropriate source of protein and fat.
SUSTAINABILITY: Chicken is recognized as the lowest emitting, and least environmentally damaging animal protein. Organic farming produces less residue and waste, and excludes environmentally harmful pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
SUSTAINABILITY: Chicken is recognized as the lowest emitting, and least environmentally damaging animal protein. Organic farming produces less residue and waste, and excludes environmentally harmful pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.
Organic Peas
NUTRITION: Peas are a low glycemic index (GI) carbohydrate source, which makes them more appropriate than a variety of alternatives for inclusion in pet foods. Peas are a rich source of calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese, and contribute some protein and fiber as well.
SUSTAINABILITY: Peas stand out as an eco-friendly crop because they fix nitrogen into the soil, and richen the soil with nutrients post-harvest. Peas plants don’t require a hot climate and significant water use for growth either.
SUSTAINABILITY: Peas stand out as an eco-friendly crop because they fix nitrogen into the soil, and richen the soil with nutrients post-harvest. Peas plants don’t require a hot climate and significant water use for growth either.
Organic Flax Meal Powder
NUTRITION: An excellent, natural source of healthful omega-3 fatty acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: Treehugger.com has called flax one of its “optimal materials for America.” Flax is recognized as a crop that's easy on the land, requires little energy for processing, minimal quantities of water and pesticides. Additionally, when harvested the whole flax plant is used for food and other purposes, leaving effectively no waste.
SUSTAINABILITY: Treehugger.com has called flax one of its “optimal materials for America.” Flax is recognized as a crop that's easy on the land, requires little energy for processing, minimal quantities of water and pesticides. Additionally, when harvested the whole flax plant is used for food and other purposes, leaving effectively no waste.
ORGANIC SUNFLOWER SEED POWDER
NUTRITION: An alternative source of protein and amino acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: Sunflower is not a genetically modified plant. No till, or minimum tillage farming practices are increasingly common among sunflower producers. Sunflower is considered drought tolerant, and requires notably less water than other crops. For example, "Corn uses one to four inches, and sugar beets use two to six inches more than sunflower, respectively, during the growing season" (SunflowerNSA.com). During the off season (winter), sunflower stalks are a food source for wildlife.
SUSTAINABILITY: Sunflower is not a genetically modified plant. No till, or minimum tillage farming practices are increasingly common among sunflower producers. Sunflower is considered drought tolerant, and requires notably less water than other crops. For example, "Corn uses one to four inches, and sugar beets use two to six inches more than sunflower, respectively, during the growing season" (SunflowerNSA.com). During the off season (winter), sunflower stalks are a food source for wildlife.
Lentils
NUTRITION: A high protein and high fiber legume with a low glycemic index (GI). Also a source of folate and manganese. Evidence suggests that lentils contribute to heart health.
SUSTAINABILITY: The carbon emissions from lentil production are very low. The Environmental Working Group considers lentils a top "climate-friendly" protein.
SUSTAINABILITY: The carbon emissions from lentil production are very low. The Environmental Working Group considers lentils a top "climate-friendly" protein.
Flaxseeds
NUTRITION: An excellent, natural source of healthful omega-3 fatty acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: Treehugger.com has called flax one of its “optimal materials for America.” Flax is recognized as a crop that's easy on the land, requires little energy for processing, minimal quantities of water and pesticides. Additionally, when harvested the whole flax plant is used for food and other purposes, leaving effectively no waste.
SUSTAINABILITY: Treehugger.com has called flax one of its “optimal materials for America.” Flax is recognized as a crop that's easy on the land, requires little energy for processing, minimal quantities of water and pesticides. Additionally, when harvested the whole flax plant is used for food and other purposes, leaving effectively no waste.
Chicken Fat
NUTRITION: Chicken fat helps to boost the overall fat content of the food. Natural animal fats are a primary and crucial component of the carnivorous canine/feline diet.
SUSTAINABILITY: Similar to the chicken + turkey meals, and chicken + turkey giblets, chicken fat is a healthful byproduct of the human poultry industry. No birds are specifically raised and slaughtered to create chicken fat for pet foods.
SUSTAINABILITY: Similar to the chicken + turkey meals, and chicken + turkey giblets, chicken fat is a healthful byproduct of the human poultry industry. No birds are specifically raised and slaughtered to create chicken fat for pet foods.
Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is a byproduct of the sugar beet industry. After the sugar has been extracted from the beets for human food purposes, a nutritive pulp remains.
NUTRITION: Because it is a "byproduct" of the sugar industry, beet pulp has developed an undeserved negative reputation. Wrongfully recognized as a "filler" or itself a source of sugar in pet foods, beet pulp actually contains excellent fiber and galacto-oligosaccharides that exert a prebiotic effect. Additionally, the pulp contains ferulic, gentisic, and p-Coumaric phenolic acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: So long as the American population remains sugar crazed, processes will exist to isolate the non-nutritive sugars in natural foods. The byproducts of those processes, such as beet pulp, are more nutritive than the extracted sugars.
NUTRITION: Because it is a "byproduct" of the sugar industry, beet pulp has developed an undeserved negative reputation. Wrongfully recognized as a "filler" or itself a source of sugar in pet foods, beet pulp actually contains excellent fiber and galacto-oligosaccharides that exert a prebiotic effect. Additionally, the pulp contains ferulic, gentisic, and p-Coumaric phenolic acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: So long as the American population remains sugar crazed, processes will exist to isolate the non-nutritive sugars in natural foods. The byproducts of those processes, such as beet pulp, are more nutritive than the extracted sugars.
Organic SUnflower Seed Powder
NUTRITION: An alternative source of protein and amino acids.
SUSTAINABILITY: Sunflower is not a genetically modified plant. No till, or minimum tillage farming practices are increasingly common among sunflower producers. Sunflower is considered drought tolerant, and requires notably less water than other crops. For example, "Corn uses one to four inches, and sugar beets use two to six inches more than sunflower, respectively, during the growing season" (SunflowerNSA.com). During the off season (winter), sunflower stalks are a food source for wildlife.
SUSTAINABILITY: Sunflower is not a genetically modified plant. No till, or minimum tillage farming practices are increasingly common among sunflower producers. Sunflower is considered drought tolerant, and requires notably less water than other crops. For example, "Corn uses one to four inches, and sugar beets use two to six inches more than sunflower, respectively, during the growing season" (SunflowerNSA.com). During the off season (winter), sunflower stalks are a food source for wildlife.
Whey Protein Isolate (NON-GMO)
NUTRITION: An excellent source of pure protein and amino acids. Sourced as only non-GMO.
SUSTAINABILITY: There is no doubt that there is much work to do in terms of the environmental impact of the dairy industry. Whey, however, is a byproduct of the cheese making process. Whey does not in and of itself have a unique, independent environmental impact.
SUSTAINABILITY: There is no doubt that there is much work to do in terms of the environmental impact of the dairy industry. Whey, however, is a byproduct of the cheese making process. Whey does not in and of itself have a unique, independent environmental impact.