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Eco-Friendly Cat Food Brands: Sustainable Options for 2025
This 2025 guide helps eco-conscious cat guardians compare sustainability approaches without advertising any particular product. We cover eight brands as illustrative examples, explain the eco-mechanics behind their choices, and provide a buying checklist. We avoid commercial links and cite only neutral or government resources at the end so you can verify claims on your own.
Why sustainability matters in cat nutrition
A cat’s footprint is strongly shaped by what goes into the bowl. Across multiple life-cycle assessments, ingredients account for roughly ~70% of a pet-food product’s total climate impact; processing energy, transport, and packaging make up the rest. This doesn’t mean packaging is irrelevant—only that the largest lever usually sits with protein choice, ingredient utilization, and portion accuracy.
In 2025, we see three practical pathways to lower impact without compromising feline health: responsibly sourced animal proteins, by-product utilization (reducing waste from the human supply chain), and novel ingredients such as insect meals. A fourth cross-cutting lever—better packaging—can further reduce waste if materials are accepted by your local recycling system.
Vet note: Cats are obligate carnivores. Any recipe—traditional, insect-based, or plant-leaning—must be “complete and balanced” for the stated life stage and supply taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, and B-vitamins. Make transitions gradually and monitor weight, stool quality, coat, and water intake.
Eight eco-conscious brands to consider in 2025 (examples, not endorsements)
Open Farm (North America) — B Corp, traceable sourcing
Open Farm’s playbook is transparency: batch-level traceability and explicit standards on farm animal care. On the sustainability side, the brand invests in mono-material plastics and recyclable-in-practice formats rather than “theoretical” claims. Their fish SKUs often highlight recognized fishery or aquaculture certifications, which helps shoppers make more informed choices.
- Eco angle: Sourcing disclosure and packaging designed for common municipal streams.
- Reality check: Meat-forward formulas still carry higher ingredient impacts; compare fishery standards per recipe.
Yarrah Organic (EU) — long-standing organic pioneer
One of Europe’s early organic pet-food labels, Yarrah focuses on certified organic inputs and has migrated many kibbles to fully recyclable mono-material bags. Certain fish recipes reference independent fishery certifications. Organic does not automatically equal low carbon, but it does raise requirements on pesticide use and animal feed chains.
- Eco angle: Certified organic supply chains with improved packaging.
- Reality check: Availability can vary by country; organic animal protein still has a sizable footprint relative to novel proteins.
Edgard & Cooper (EU/UK) — paper-based recyclable bags
The brand’s signature move is a paper outer with a plant-based inner layer designed to go into paper recycling in many markets. They also publish a “zero pawprint” roadmap covering energy, logistics, and charitable programs. Because recycling rules differ by municipality, always confirm whether your local paper stream accepts these laminates.
- Eco angle: Easier end-of-life and transparency on longer-term goals.
- Reality check: Paper laminates are not universally accepted—check local guidance.
Lovebug (UK) — insect-based dry food in plastic-free packaging
Lovebug uses black soldier fly (BSF) meal, which can be raised on by-products and requires less land and water than many traditional livestock systems. The packaging aims to be plastic-free and fully recyclable, reducing end-of-life burdens. As with any novel protein, introduce gradually and watch appetite and stool quality.
- Eco angle: Lower resource inputs and circular feed potential for insects.
- Reality check: Environmental gains depend on the farm’s energy mix and feedstock; palatability varies by cat.
Yora (UK/Global) — insect formulas with recyclable packs
Yora leans into BSF for both dry and pâté lines and often emphasizes digestibility and gentle stool profiles. For eco-minded buyers, the combination of a novel protein and recyclable packaging offers a balanced compromise when fully meat-free diets are not appropriate for the household.
- Eco angle: Novel protein with packaging attention.
- Reality check: Recycling acceptance is market-dependent; verify locally.
Benevo (EU/UK) — plant-based complete recipes
Benevo is a long-running vegan option formulated to meet established nutrient profiles. It exists primarily for households with strong ethical constraints or meat allergies in the home. Because cats are obligate carnivores, this route must be closely supervised by a veterinarian, with regular checks on urinary pH, body condition, and essential amino acid status.
- Eco angle: Avoids conventional animal agriculture.
- Reality check: Nutritional adequacy and long-term tolerance must be monitored professionally.
Smalls (US) — minimal additive recipes, recyclable shipping
Smalls delivers fresh/frozen meals with recyclable cardboard and biodegradable insulation. Fresh formulas can reduce plate waste thanks to palatability, which indirectly improves eco performance. On the other hand, cold-chain logistics add transport emissions; batching orders and using freezer space efficiently help offset this.
- Eco angle: Higher palatability can mean less waste; responsible shipping materials.
- Reality check: Cold-chain deliveries raise transport impacts—consolidate shipments where possible.
Untamed (UK) — fully recyclable tins, zero plastic pouches
Untamed opts for aluminium/steel tins instead of multi-layer plastic pouches. Metals are widely recycled and have established markets, making end-of-life simpler for households with good curbside programs. The meat-forward recipes are highly palatable; choose responsibly sourced options when available.
- Eco angle: Easy, well-established recycling pathways for packaging.
- Reality check: Ingredient footprint still depends on protein source and by-product use.
How to choose a greener cat food in 2025
- Prioritize ingredient efficiency: Compare grams fed per day and energy density. A calorie-dense, highly digestible recipe may produce less waste even if it contains animal protein, provided portions are accurate.
- Look for recognized labels: For fish, seek credible marine or aquaculture certifications on the specific SKU, not just a brand banner. For organic, confirm the certifier and scope.
- Packaging that works where you live: “Recyclable” means little if your municipality won’t take it. Paper, steel, aluminium, and mono-material plastics have better odds of acceptance.
- By-product utilization: Recipes using meat by-products can lower waste across the whole food system while still delivering nutrients cats need.
- Transition plans: Switch over 7–10 days, mixing old and new food. Keep a simple log of appetite, stool, coat, and weight. Adjust portions after 2–3 weeks based on body condition score.
- Hydration: Wet food or a water fountain can support urinary health and may reduce overeating. Sustainability gains are quickly erased by urinary issues—health first.
Nutritionist tip: The greenest bowl is the one your cat actually eats. Reduce leftovers, store food properly, and buy sizes you can finish before spoilage.
At-a-glance: approaches, eco signals, pros and cons
| Brand | Approach | Sustainability signals | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Farm | Meat/fish with traceability | B Corp; recyclable-in-practice packaging | High transparency; broad recipe range | Animal-protein heavy; price premium |
| Yarrah | Organic meat/fish (EU) | EU Organic; mono-material plastic bags | Certified inputs; mature supply chains | Availability varies; still meat-centric |
| Edgard & Cooper | Dry/wet with paper-based bags | Paper recycling; public “zero pawprint” roadmap | Curbside-friendly in many areas | Local acceptance not universal |
| Lovebug | Insect-based dry | Plastic-free, recyclable packaging | Lower land/water use potential | Palatability/tolerance can vary |
| Yora | Insect dry & pâté | Recyclable packs (market-dependent) | Digestibility focus; hypoallergenic angle | Regional rollout; check local recycling |
| Benevo | Vegan complete | Meets AAFCO/FEDIAF nutrient profiles | Avoids animal agriculture inputs | Requires strict vet oversight |
| Smalls | Fresh/frozen meat-first | Recyclable boxes; biodegradable insulation | High palatability; less plate waste | Cold-chain footprint; freezer space |
| Untamed | Wet food in tins | Widely recycled metal cans | Established recycling markets | Meat sourcing still key to impact |
2025 trend watch: what to verify before you buy
- Insects at scale: BSF farms are expanding in the EU/US. Environmental benefits depend on use of food-system by-products and renewable electricity.
- From “recyclable” to “recycled”: Expect more post-consumer-recycled content in bags and secondary packaging as supply improves.
- QR transparency: Per-batch QR codes are becoming common. Use them to confirm fishery sources, country of origin, and production lots.
- Lower-waste feeding: Scoop by weight, not volume; reseal bags; store cans properly; and freeze portions if allowed by the product to reduce spoilage.
Editor’s take: Sustainability isn’t one label—it’s a stack of decisions: nutrient-adequate ingredients your cat tolerates, packaging your city actually recycles, and buying habits that minimize waste and freight.
Sources (neutral & government)
- FDA — Pet Food Overview: fda.gov
- USDA — Organic Agriculture Basics: usda.gov
- EPA — Recycling Basics and Local Guidance: epa.gov
- EU Commission — Food Information and Sustainability Initiatives: europa.eu
- FEDIAF — Insect-Based Ingredients in Pet Food (industry association, non-commercial): europeanpetfood.org
- University of Edinburgh — Pets and Climate Context: ed.ac.uk
We deliberately avoid linking to commercial brand pages. Availability, recycling acceptance, and certifications can differ by country and even by city—verify locally.