Mapping your sustainability journey

Petfood Essentials

Why attend

Petfood Essentials is an interactive, informal educational pre-conference seminar, held the day prior to the opening of Petfood Forum.

New in 2025: Pet food industry professionals will take a deep dive into pet food sustainability at Petfood Essentials on April 28.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly essential to pet food business success.

Not only are pet owners and stakeholders in the pet food supply chain expecting and demanding more environmentally responsible practices and results, but companies are also finding that following such practices often creates cost savings.

Yet starting or advancing an organization’s sustainability journey is tough and complicated. In this interactive Petfood Essentials seminar, experts — including from the Pet Sustainability Coalition — will provide information and insights on key points along the journey, how to determine your environmental footprint and how to make your supply chain more sustainable. Sessions will look at sustainability in pet food ingredients, packaging and more, and participants will also learn through a hands-on life cycle analysis (LCA) group exercise.

Set the foundation for your entire Petfood Forum experience with more education and more networking, in an informal setting.

Purchase the Petfood Forum 2-Day & Petfood Essentials Combo Pass for the best value. Register by February 28 to save up to $200!

Sessions at a glance:

  • Welcome and opening session: How to start your sustainability journey — Allison Reser, director of sustainability and innovation, Pet Sustainability Coalition

  • Life cycle analysis: Tips and best practices — Marty Heller, senior consultant, Blonk Sustainability
  • How human food and pet food can work together to deliver sustainability outcomes — Gail Tavill, global chief sustainability officer, OSI Group
  • Standardizing the environmental footprints of pet food ingredients: A case study with rendered animal byproducts — Janjoris van Diepen, footprint director North America, Mérieux NutriSciences/Blonk Sustainability
  • Rethinking pet food packaging: How sustainability shapes the future — Antonio Cabras, CEO, Velvet Srl
  • Group presentations of their LCAs
Border collie laying by bowl of food

Supporting Partner

Pet Sustainability Coalition
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2025 Petfood Essential Sponsors

Balchem
Extru-Tech Incorporated
Merieux NutriSciences
Midwest Laboratories
PrintPack
Reading Bakery Systems
The Peterson Company
Wenger Manufacturing Co

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ARPAS Accredited

Petfood Forum is the only ARPAS-credentialed event for eligible professionals in pet food. ARPAS members receive 9 credits for attending Petfood Forum and 6 credits for attending Petfood Essentials. The AAFCO seminar, co-located at Petfood Forum, qualifies for 3 credits.

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