Page 38 - PET worldwide issue 01/2023

Sustainability

Encouraging

approaches in the

pet business

When it comes to sustainability in the pet industry, something

is happening but more could still be done. This topic was given
high priority at the International Pet Conference in Bologna.

Challenges like the crisis in sup- Behnke, representing the Plant high-quality, long-lasting plas-
ply chains, the problems with en- Litter Association for Germany tic raw materials and wants to
ergy supply and in particular the and France, described the envi- manufacture only products that
advance of climate change show ronmental problems of cat litter are designed for reutilisation
that sustainability is an area that in his speech. Caitlyn Dudas, ex- rather than single use. Another
is not only important, but has also ecutive director of the Pet Sus- element of the company's con-
become existential for the future tainability Coalition, travelled cept is a high recycling rate of
of the pet industry. It’s an issue to the conference from the USA its products.
that concerns the whole world, and described the activities of
because in a globalised world, her association. She made clear Sustainable development
everything is interconnected. in her talk why sustainability is The topic of sustainability is also
Many companies in the pet the key to greater business suc- becoming increasingly important
supplies industry understand cess. Some companies also had at the pet food manufacturer In-
that they can’t ignore the topic of the opportunity to present them- terquell, famous for brands like
sustainability. Reducing packag- selves and their approaches for Happy Dog, Happy Cat and
ing is becoming more of a priority more sustainability in presenta- Goood. Andreas Müller, son
for many manufacturers. A lot of tions and in a panel discussion of the company's founder and
companies are doing everything moderated by Ralf Majer-Abele, managing director Georg Mül-
they can to save energy. Renew- editor-in-chief of the pet trade ler, is head of sustainability at
able energy sources are, there- magazine PET worldwide. One the family-owned company and
fore, also being used more and of these companies was the plays a major role in strength-
more to provide energy. Some Belgian pet accessories manu- ening corporate sustainability
companies have sustainabil- facturer Moderna Products. For at Interquell. “Our sustainability
ity managers and sustainability its managing director Chantal team works together with all the
councils, which decide jointly and Saelen, sustainability is a goal relevant stakeholders to create a
across departments on measures that can’t be achieved overnight. company that is fit for the future
to achieve greater sustainability. “It's a step-by-step process, be- and faces up to the social, envi-
ing consistent and remain- ronmental and economic chal-
Circular economy ing fully focused on making a lenges of the present,” stated
At the International Pet Confer- change,” she said in her talk. The Müller. Sustainable develop-
ence, the topic of sustainability company is a proponent of the ment in harmony with our planet
was given top billing. Michael circular economy. It focuses on and society is very important to

38 PET worldwide 1|2023

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