The pet food industry is undergoing a shift as consumers look beyond the ingredient panel and begin asking bigger questions about how their pets’ food is made. Where ingredients come from, how animals are raised, how food is manufactured, what happens to packaging after it is used, and how companies manage their environmental impact are all becoming increasingly important considerations for today’s pet parents.

As sustainability continues to influence purchasing decisions across the food industry, pet food companies are facing growing expectations to consider not only what goes into the bowl, but also the impact their products have on the planet.

From agricultural practices and animal welfare to energy use, packaging waste, and resource consumption, there are opportunities throughout the supply chain to make more responsible choices. For pet food companies, meaningful sustainability requires looking beyond a single initiative or marketing claim and considering the environmental impact of the entire product lifecycle.

At Steve’s Real Food, sustainability isn’t a marketing trend - it’s a core value that influences every step of our process, from sourcing ingredients to packaging the products. Our commitment to nourishing pets and protecting the planet was formally recognized in June 2026, when Steve’s Real Food achieved Certified B Corporation status. This certification validates our long-standing dedication to making decisions that positively impact pets, people, communities, and the environment, and represents another milestone in our ongoing sustainability journey.

Sustainable Sourcing

Sustainable pet food starts with responsible ingredient sourcing, because what goes into our food also impacts the environment. That’s why all of Steve’s Real Food ingredients are free from pesticides, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, GMOs, and 4D meats. By maintaining these strict standards, we help reduce the introduction of harmful chemicals into soil and groundwater while supporting cleaner agricultural practices.

We work exclusively with partners who are committed to environmental stewardship and ethical animal care. Our grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, and free-range poultry are sourced from family farms and ranches in the United States. The wild-caught fish used in our White Fish Recipe are sourced from fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

These partnerships allow us to support agricultural systems that prioritize animal welfare, responsible land management, and long-term environmental sustainability. By choosing suppliers who share our values, we help create a more transparent and accountable food system.

Minimal Processing

Manufacturing can be one of the largest contributors to a company’s environmental footprint. Because our raw foods are minimally processed, they require significantly less manufacturing energy than many conventional pet foods. The energy powering our production facility comes from hydroelectric power, a renewable, reliable, and emission-free energy source. By embracing clean energy alternatives, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower the overall environmental impact of our operations.

Packaging Benefits

Source: ©Steve’s Real Food/Evan Erickson

Packaging plays a critical role in sustainability, and we continuously seek ways to reduce waste and increase recyclability. We began our partnership with Thanh Phu Packaging in 2020, adopting their innovative VeloFlex®  packaging technology to advance our sustainability goals while maintaining the product protection and performance our customers expect. As part of this ongoing collaboration, Thanh Phu introduced us to packaging containing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. Recognizing the environmental benefits, we quickly moved forward with implementation in 2024, launching PCR packaging for our 5-lb frozen diets and 20-oz freeze-dried products. Building on that success, we expanded PCR packaging into our Quest Cat Food line in 2025. Together with Thanh Phu, we remain committed to advancing packaging solutions that reduce waste, support a circular economy, and minimize our environmental footprint.

We were also the first pet food company in the United States to achieve Interzero certification, reinforcing our commitment to responsible packaging and circularity. As part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, we are actively working toward ISCC accreditation to further validate and strengthen our supply chain practices. Our packaging can be recycled through grocery store drop-off programs that accept flexible plastic packaging.

For our larger product sizes, we use corrugated cardboard boxes made from renewable, responsibly sourced fiber and are recyclable through most curbside recycling programs. The fiber used in these boxes is backed by recognized third-party sustainability certification programs, helping support responsible forest management and the continued use of recycled materials. We also use environmentally friendly, water-based printing inks formulated with renewable resources. These inks help reduce our carbon footprint, contain lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and do not negatively affect the packaging's recyclability or compostability.

Environmental Stewardship

As another step in leading the way in environmental stewardship, Steve’s Real Food was the first pet food company to partner with 4ocean, a global organization dedicated to removing plastic waste from oceans, rivers, and coastlines. Since our partnership began in 2024, we’ve removed 20,000 pounds of plastic and trash from the ocean each year, equivalent to the number of 5lb frozen bags and 20oz freeze-dried bags shipped annually.

Sustainability is an ongoing journey, not a destination. As environmental challenges evolve, Steve’s Real Food will continue exploring new opportunities to expand our sustainability initiatives, improve resource efficiency, and ultimately work toward plastic neutrality.

By making thoughtful decisions about sourcing, manufacturing, packaging, and conservation, we strive to create products that are good for your pet and the ground they walk on.