Last Updated: 29/10/2026
Ethical and Sustainable Pet Food in Australia: A Vet Guide
Our vets explain how to read ethical and sustainable claims on dog and cat food in Australia, and why complete and balanced nutrition comes first.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Many of us are becoming more mindful of what we pop into our own grocery trolleys, from free-range eggs to sustainably caught fish. It’s only natural that we want the same high standards in our dog food and cat food! But claims like "eco-friendly" and "ethical" can be hard to check, and as vets, our priority is that any food you choose is complete and balanced. Here's how to make sense of the claims.
Key points:
- Balance is non-negotiable: While ethical values are important, your pet's health depends on "complete and balanced" nutrition. Always ensure a brand meets AAFCO standards to avoid long-term health issues.
- Transparency is a green flag: Look for brands that avoid "and/or" ingredient labels. Some also offer traceability tools that show where ingredients came from. See our guide to how to read a pet food label.
- Prioritise humane welfare: Choose brands with third-party certifications like 'Certified Humane'. This ensures the farm animals involved were raised with adequate space, shelter, and without unnecessary antibiotics.
- Fish for sustainability: To protect our oceans, opt for brands that source their seafood in accordance with Seafood Watch or Ocean Wise standards, which focus on abundant species rather than threatened ones.
- Packaging matters: Sustainability goes beyond the food itself. Look for brands that partner with programs like TerraCycle to provide recycling options for their packaging, reducing the environmental footprint of your pet's meals.
What do ethical and sustainable mean for pet food?
Ethical and sustainable pet food uses ingredients that are traceable back to their source, proteins from humanely raised or sustainably caught animals, and manufacturing that meets recognised welfare and environmental standards.
While fish provides excellent Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, overfishing is a major environmental concern. Look for brands that source "catch of the season" fish in alignment with third-party standards like Ocean Wise or Seafood Watch, ensuring fish species are sourced responsibly based on their abundance.
For meat-sourcing, ethical brands prioritise meat from animals raised under humane standards. This includes sourcing free-range, grass-fed, or "free-run" proteins where animals have:
- Adequate space
- Adequate shelter
- Ability to engage in natural behaviours
- No use of growth hormones or unnecessary antibiotics
For both dogs and cats, look for specific certifications from third-parties, like Certified Humane and Global Animal Partnership (GAP), rather than vague terms like 'natural' or 'responsibly sourced', and choose brands that offer a traceability tool so you can verify where your pet's food actually comes from.
Which protein sources have a lower environmental impact in pet food?
Ingredients, especially the main protein, are the biggest factor in a pet food's environmental impact. In a 2025 analysis of 31 UK adult dry dog foods1, plant-based recipes had the lowest estimated impact, poultry-based recipes sat in the middle, and beef and lamb recipes had the highest. That's one study, and it isn't a reason for every pet to change diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, and any diet has to be complete and balanced for your pet's life stage and health, so talk to your vet before making changes.
Some brands are also using alternative proteins. Here's what we know about each:
- Insects (black soldier fly larvae and crickets). Insects may need less land and water than farmed meat, but the footprint depends on what they’re fed and how they’re processed, and there's little pet food specific data.
- Wild-harvested kangaroo. Kangaroo is harvested from the wild, so the animals themselves don't need farmland, and kangaroos produce less methane than cattle2. Researchers and the public still debate the wider ecological and welfare effects of commercial harvesting.
- Feral animals (venison and wild boar). Feral deer and pigs are invasive in Australia, so using them for pet food puts an existing resource to use.
Always check the pet food label to confirm the protein source and where it comes from, and ask the brand for the evidence behind any environmental claim.
Which pet food brands publish sourcing and welfare information?
Open Farm
Open Farm: its chicken, turkey and pork are Certified Humane, and its beef and lamb are Global Animal Partnership Step 4 rated, with the lamb pasture-raised in New Zealand. Its farms are audited on an ongoing basis and its wild-caught fish is sourced in line with Ocean Wise standards. You can trace ingredients using its online Pet Food Ingredient Tracker.
Orijen
Orijen: its chicken and turkey are free-run, which it describes as raised in a barn without cages but without outdoor access, and its eggs are cage-free. Its beef, bison and lamb typically come from ranches, and its fish are wild-caught or responsibly farm-raised.
K9 & Feline Natural
K9 & Feline Natural: their beef, lamb and venison are grass-fed (and grass-finished for the freeze-dried red meats), and their chicken is cage-free. Their ingredients come from New Zealand farmers and fisheries who share their commitment to animal welfare, with traceability back to the farm or fishery wherever possible. They’re B Corp certified, which is a company-wide social and environmental assessment.
Ziwi Peak
Ziwi Peak: its beef and lamb are free-range, grass-fed and grass-finished, its poultry is cage-free, and its seafood is wild-caught and sustainably caught.
FAQs
Choosing an ethical pet food is a wonderful way to support animal welfare and the planet while still providing your best friend with a delicious, nutritious meal. By looking for transparency in sourcing and third-party certifications, you can feel confident that your pet is thriving on a diet that is as kind as it is healthy. For more information about non-traditional pet foods, see our specialty and alternative dog food guide, and our specialty and alternative cat food guide. If you're unsure which recipe is right for your pet's specific needs, our vet team is always here to help you navigate the menu!
References
Brociek RA, Gardner DS (2025). Environmental impact of feeding plant-based vs. meat-based dry dog foods in the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1633312/full.
Edwards, M., Wilson, G., 2023. Market opportunities for methane abatement and carbon storage through improved kangaroo grazing management. https://agrifutures.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/23-094.pdf
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 29 Oct 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
