As sustainability becomes an increasingly important focus across industries, pet food manufacturers are seeking ways to lower their environmental impact without compromising product quality. One often-overlooked opportunity lies in the type of fat used during production. Many pet food manufacturers have taken the seed oil route, which on the surface feels like a sustainable choice. In this article, we’ll explore why this is not the case, and outline why Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat can dramatically influence your waste output, production efficiency and overall carbon footprint. Why Seed Oils Aren’t a Sustainable Alternative While some manufacturers have considered turning to oils like soybean, sunflower, palm or canola oil to support sustainability goals, the reality is more complicated. Producing seed oil is extremely resource-intensive, requiring large amounts of farmland, water, and energy. In addition, their cultivation often leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and chemical runoff. The facts are stunning. We began exploring this a few years ago, and came across an article that outlines them quite well. The author, Jeff Nobbs, has done extensive work on the dangers of seed oils, and took a deep dive into the environmental impact. Among many other things, he points out that “2 of the top 3 drivers of global deforestation are vegetable oil crops” and “vegetable oils emit more greenhouse gases per kilogram than any other major crop.” In