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 addition, “vegetable oils make up three of the five most inefficient crops, requiring as much as 3-50 times more land per kilogram than most other crops.” Ouch.
Nobbs goes on to describe the seed oil supply chain, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with it. Let’s just say that this makes the case for seed oil even worse.
Clearly, the environmental impact is much more than most people realize.
Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat is Your Choice for Sustainability
Unlike seed oils or commonly used standard chicken fat, Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat leverages a refining process that delivers many benefits that directly – and positively – impact your sustainability goals. Let’s take a closer look:
- Product Sourcing. Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat makes use of existing animal by-product rather than driving the creation of new agricultural demands. Our product doesn’t require additional land, water, or other resources than what is currently in place.
- Product Purity. We start with high-quality raw material and put it through our proprietary refining process to eliminate natural and foreign materials including pathogens like Salmonella and bird flu, as well as non-fat impurities that may clog production lines. This results in less waste for you, as well as less water consumption and chemical usage associated with system shutdowns and cleaning cycles.
- Logistics Process. Raw material is shipped directly to our refining facility in Clinton, IN, and we ship directly to customers offering the shipping and packaging methods most efficient for your operations. Indeed, we are an international supplier with full capabilities for any shipment vessel, from totes to tanker trucks, to railcars, and even sea containers. We can serve your business, no matter the requirements.
By choosing Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat, a 100% usable, contaminant-free product, you can meet both operational and environmental goals without compromise. The price for peace of mind is lower than you may think. Do better for your brand – and for the planet – with Gold Shield® Refined Chicken Fat.
The Difference is Clear.
