von In April 2024, the Pet Sustainability Coalition hosted its third annual Earth Day Rally, bringing together hundreds of pet industry professionals to participate in a 30-day sprint aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This year, the Rally exceeded expectations by saving a total of 18,700 tons of CO2, surpassing the initial goal of 15 tons.
The Rally, which was free for all participants, utilized an easy-to-use mobile app called CO2 Hero to mobilize 730 individuals from 37 companies to engage in daily eco-friendly actions. These actions included offsetting business travel, adopting plant-based diets, recycling, and reusing water bottles, among others.
The top-performing companies in this year’s Earth Day Rally were Freshpet, Earth Animal, Austin and Kat, Nulo, and W. F. Young. The top-performing individuals included Brett Duewell, Liliana Bolton, Lisa Diehl from Freshpet, Maria Lange from Earth Animal, and Alexis Vance from W.F. Young.
Jim Lamancusa, the executive director of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, commended the pet industry for its significant impact on the environment, with the member network showing consistent growth year after year. He emphasized the importance of building sustainable habits that will have a lasting impact on the planet.
To further support the efforts of the Earth Day Rally participants, the American Pet Products Association, World Pet Association, and the North American Veterinary Community launched a Matching Gift campaign, donating $25,000 each to match participants‘ climate points. These donations will contribute to PSC’s Impact Fund, supporting initiatives in plastic packaging and sustainable proteins.
The success of the Earth Day Rally was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Earth Animal, along with the support of other sponsors such as Freshpet, Healthy Pet, Open Farm, Peel Plastics, and Petco. The Rally not only inspires and educates participants but also fosters healthy competition among companies in the pet industry to drive sustainability efforts forward.
The Pet Sustainability Coalition, founded in 2013, continues to lead the pet industry in promoting environmental and social responsibility. With over 200 member companies, PSC facilitates progress in sustainability practices, goal-setting, and reporting, while also fostering collaboration on industry-wide issues such as sustainable packaging and protein sourcing.
Overall, the Earth Day Rally demonstrated the collective impact that the pet industry can have on the environment when working together towards a common goal. Through ongoing initiatives and partnerships, PSC and its members are committed to creating a more sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet.
