7 Sustainable Dog Food Brands Making Good Bowls For Good Dogs

The Honest Kitchen

Price Range: $9–$150

The Honest Kitchen found a new tree to pee on two decades ago—by which we mean they were the first to create 100% human-grade food for pets. It all started when founder Lucy Postins became concerned with her dog’s ear infections and skin problems, which led her to question whether food was the cause. Most pet food is deemed “feed grade”, while human grade pet food contains higher quality ingredients and safer standards.

The eco-friendly cat food and dog food from The Honest Kitchen is designed to match the individual needs of your pooch—including both grain-free and whole-grain options. Here’s what’s on offer: whole food clusters, dehydrated food, one-pot stews, butcher block pâté, toppers, and a base mix (just add protein).

The Honest Kitchen tucks its tail to GMOs, chemical preservatives, and unhealthy ingredients typically found in dog food. 84% of ingredients come from North America, some of which are organic or MSC certified. They share a list of ingredient origins and only work with suppliers who use fair trade channels, provide proof of food origins, screening, handling, cleaning, and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and do not source from China.

The company has a discount program for non-profit rescues.

Petaluma

Price Range: $17–$94

To Petaluma, healthy dog food means that which is veterinarian formulated, extensively lab-tested, and meat-free. Even so, each cup of Petaluma has 33 grams of protein—as well as a complete amino acid profile and balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fats. They’ve published a full nutrient analysis and have conducted vitro digestibility tests showing dogs can absorb ~80% of the nutrients.

Their “Dog Food of Tomorrow” is avaialble as wither a Roasted Peanut Butter & Sweet Potato adult or Baked Pumpkin & Peanut Butter senior formula, with another that will meet AAFCO growth guidelines for puppies coming soon. They also sell Sweet Potato jerky chews. All contain non-GMO and about 50% organic-certified ingredients like chickpeas, potato protein, pea protein, peanut butter, flaxseeds, whole grains, and vegetables sourced (as much as possible) from organic, biodiverse farms.

Purchase their five or 18-pound bags once or sign up for an eco-friendly dog food delivery subscription. If you’re not already barking up their tree, you can request a free sample scoop.

Petaluma is a Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, and a member of 1% for the Planet that bakes everything in a solar-powered facility. Treats come in home compostable bags and they’re still working on more sustainable dog food packaging solutions. Currently, they’ve swapped the polyethylene outer layer for kraft paper.

The Kind Pet

Price Range: $46–$53

We know woman-owned and operated The Kind Pet from their collection of eco-friendly dog toys that our own dogs have loved over the last year of play, but toys are just the tip of the tail for this brand.

They now offer a Holistic Vet Blend® Dog Food Premix, which is designed as a complete nutritional supplement you can use with homemade dog food (more on that at the bottom of the brand list). It was developed by Dr Dody Tyneway Robi DVM, “to empower the consumer to choose healthy ingredients, whether they are organic, humanely reared, seasonal or local ingredients, and provide the necessary minerals and vitamins to balance them”.

Choose between the Limited Premix as a basic supplement or the Regular Premix, an elevated mix that contains nutrient rich grass fed beef liver.

Using it is as easy as wagging your tail. Simply create a large batch using Dr Robi’s recipe on the product page, feed your pet the amount indicated by the recipe for their weight, and refrigerate or freeze the rest, making more once you run out.

While these supplements don’t come in the sustainable dog food packaging, as they’re contained in a plastic tub, we suggest trying to reuse for other things. But each shipment is packed using 40% recycled cardboard and water-based adhesive tape. The Kind Pet operates a carbon-neutral warehouse, while also allowing buyers to further their carbon offset with the EcoCart option at checkout.

Jiminy's

Price Range: $22–$50

Just call us Pinnoccio because we’re jumping for joy at Jiminy’s (and no, our nose is not growing when we say so). Jiminy’s is appropriately named, not just because they use crickets, but because they let their conscience be their guide.

Their Cravin’ Cricket and Good Grub eco-friendly dry dog foods utilize crickets (humanely raised in ‘cricket condos’) and dried black soldier fly larvae proteins, respectively. Both are complete forms of protein that are good for skin conditions and dogs who need an anti-inflammatory diet. Insect protein is also hypoallergenic, safe for sensitive stomachs, provides prebiotics, and is safe from common meat pathogens.

The kibble is free of corn, wheat, soy, and animal meat, instead utilizing oats (so not grain-free), quinoa, sweet potato, and other all-natural, minimally-processed ingredients. Both the food and their eco-friendly dog treats are veterinarian formulated (by someone with two PhDs in animal nutrition and entomology) to meet AAFCO standards for adult dogs

The kibble is oven baked in the USA in small batches, rather than extruded (cooked in high heat and pressure), ensuring more nutrients remain. Compared to traditional dog food, you’ll also save 500,000 gallons of water per year switching your dog to theirs.

Lily's Kitchen

Price Range: £4–£155

Lily was the ill dog; Henrietta was the concerned mom. After struggling to find natural food that would soothe Lily’s sore and itchy skin, Henrietta started to cook the meals herself. Significant health improvements inspired Henrietta to share the love, so she partnered with vets and nutritionists to whip up the meals still sold by UK-based Lily’s Kitchen.

Their “menu” gets the award for the most creative culinary selection. Clever names like Breakfast Crunch and cute packaging will catch the eyes of anyone wrapped around their dog’s (or cat’s) paw.

The company produces “proper food” in the form of both sustainable wet dog food and dry dog food. Instead of cheap fillers, you can expect to see wholesome, nutritious, and natural ingredients like real meat and/or vegetables.

Wild Earth

Price Range: $17–$125

Pooch and planet-friendly, Wild Earth makes 100% plant-based superfood kibble and treats for all breeds—tiny terriers to massive-mastiffs.

They call it Clean High Protein Dog Food, with Zero Junk. Instead of fillers, “mystery” meat, and preservatives, their vegan sustainable dog food ingredients include dried yeast, oats, peas, sweet potato, and chickpeas.

Don’t think that means your canine is lacking in protein. The secret is in the yeast, which they call “miniature protein factories”. This food is 31% natural clean protein, full of fiber, and provides all the joint and digestive support dogs need. Just like a meat-free (or even meat-reduced) human diet, getting rid of animal products helps to drastically reduce Fido’s environmental impact—by as much as 90%.

Not only is it better for the planet, but the 10 essential amino acids contribute to more energy, shinier coats, fewer allergies, and a healthier weight. A survey of 3,000 of their customers showed that after just three bags of Wild Earth, 78% of dogs showed health improvements, like the 43% who saw less itching & scratching.

It’s CEO-approved (there’s even a video of him eating a spoonful on their website) and if your dog doesn’t love it, you can get a full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.

Pezzy Pets

Price Range: $12–$46

Based in Berkeley, California, Pezzy doesn’t make dog food, per se, but they do make a food topper and waste free dog treats without any of the fillers and chemical preservatives. In fact, everything except their cookies are single ingredient treats that high in protein but low in calories—so can still reward your chunky pup or cat for being the good boy he is.

Their solution to ensuring dogs get sufficient protein without the environmentally damaging meat industry?

100% invasive fish. Specifically, the devil fish (AKA armored catfish) that infests Mexican freshwaters, now accounting for up 70% of fish captured in some places. Fishing for these actually increases biodiversity by removing competition from necessary native species. All fish are wild caught by “artisanal fishermen” in Mexico who earn 40% more on average than those in similar positions So far, they’ve removed 100 tons of invasive fish.

After that, the fish are processed in an FDA-registered facility in Tabasco, Mexico where they are dried partially using solar dehydrators (with the goal of being 100% solar in the future).

Their eco-friendly pet food packaging (including stickers and boxes) is 100% compostable.