Waste Hater: The Conscious Pet
A puppy…a podcast…and a plan for a better planet. This unassuming formula was the early inspiration behind new upcycling brand The Conscious Pet.
When Mason and Jessica Arnold, hosts of the podcast “A Mostly Green Life,” learned that food waste could be dehydrated and repurposed for pet food, they immediately thought of their new puppy, Ellie. The duo was mid-interview during the show, speaking with a local composting organization, when the stars started to align.
Finally…a solution!
The couple had been researching dog foods for awhile, and found costs sometimes exceeded potential benefits. Since they were environmentalists by trade, they loved the prospect of reducing waste and supporting their pup in an economically viable way.
“Most dog food has questionable ingredients and others can cost an arm and a leg,” Jessica tells Replate. “Thinking about this problem, along with the enormous amount of food waste, we got to work in our kitchen creating products that could help with both.”
In the summer of 2022, the Arnolds launched The Conscious Pet, a line of nutritious, human-grade dog food, meal toppers and treats made from dehydrated food waste. Based in Austin, they source surplus from local restaurants, and use a proprietary process to convert it into pet food.
The Arnolds retrieve proteins from a large, local commissary kitchen, and rescue organic veggies from smoothie shops. They’re also piloting an upcycled program with a large food distributor to source additional protein
The product line is unique and diverse. From Chicken + Pork meals to Prebiotic Ginger and Green-Lipped Mussel & Turmeric toppers, The Conscious Pet recipes contain a variety of vitamins and nutrients, offering a thoughtful, impactful approach to supporting all creatures on our planet.
“The dog food industry has a big environmental pawprint - if the pets in the U.S. alone had their own country, they'd rank fifth in terms of global meat consumption,” explains Jessica. “Almost all dog food packaging is plastic and although some companies have a take-back program, we know those numbers are incredibly low. We're making mindful decisions about the products we create and sell from sourcing to packaging. The way we source our proteins does not contribute to greenhouse gasses, and we use backyard compostable packaging.”
And they’re getting a great response!
Available for shipping anywhere in the U.S., fans of The Conscious Pet are reporting much delight from their furry family members. Considering how some of Replate’s family dogs skip their meals, this is no small feat!
Adds Jessica, “Dog parents have really appreciated our mission and dogs are loving our products! It's so rewarding to get feedback and reviews from customers about how excited their pup now is for dinner, or how it's helped their dog's hair grow back or increased their senior dog's energy levels. Quality nutrition is vital to a happy and healthy life.”
To learn more about The Conscious Pet, visit their website.
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