Pet Sustainability Coalition’s Plastic Recovery July Removes 92,000 Pounds of Plastic Across 3 Countries
The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), a Colorado-based nonprofit committed to helping pet product companies drive their sustainability impact, has wrapped its most ambitious environmental initiative to date: Plastic Recovery July. In partnership with rePurpose Global, PSC and 14 participating brands rallied to remove more than 92,000 pounds of plastic waste from some of the world’s most polluted ecosystems.
The pet industry uses more than 300 million pounds of plastic packaging each year. Up to 99 percent ends up in landfills, oceans or natural environments. Nearly every product category relies on plastic, including supplements, toys, grooming items, single-use poop bags and food packaging.
One large dog can generate roughly 39 pounds of plastic waste annually. Multiply that by just 100,000 labrador retrievers, and the result is more than 3 million pounds of waste each year.
Over the course of the month, the campaign achieved:
- 92,000 pounds of plastic recovered from the environment
- Four critical ecosystems protected, including coral reefs, mangrove forests and the Himalayan foothills
- More than 1,070 waste workers supported, with safe, dignified employment
- Over 800 women empowered through workforce leadership opportunities
- Three countries impacted: Kenya, India and Indonesia
“When we act together, we create real impact. That’s how we build a better pet industry. Our coalition will continue building pathways for measurable and impactful sustainability across the pet industry,” said Jim Lamancusa, CEO of the Pet Sustainability Coalition. “If the excitement from our members continues to be so strong, we will make this an annual event. Many of our members are looking for a tangible and measurable way to reduce their plastic impact so campaigns like this are a win-win.”
Global Projects Fueled by Pet Industry Action:
Bahari Safi (“Clean Ocean”) | Lamu, Kenya
Protects 62 percent of Kenya’s vital mangrove forests by collecting unmanaged plastic waste and converting it into artisanal products like furniture and traditional boats.
Pavitra Parvat (“Hallowed Hills”) | Uttarakhand, India
Prevents plastic pollution from entering fragile Himalayan wildlife habitats and supports tiger and elephant conservation through cleanup campaigns and local government partnerships.
Laut Yang Tenang (“Calm Seas”) | West Java, Indonesia
Upgrades informal recycling infrastructure in the Coral Triangle, diverting massive amounts of flexible plastic from the ocean.
Hara Kal (“Green Tomorrow”) | Kerala, India
Delivers waste services to more than 700,000 residents while creating safe jobs and leadership opportunities for more than 800 women in the waste sector.
Participating Brands:
The following brands took part in the inaugural Plastic Recovery July campaign:
- APPA
- PetSmart
- Only Natural Pet
- Royal Canin
- Earth Animal
- EarthWise Pet
- Morris Packaging
- Printpack
- Tyler Packaging
- Augie Bones
- Bimini
- Material Motion
- Ollie
- Pet Worldwide
- Polkadog
These companies helped establish a new model for environmental collaboration in the pet industry, demonstrating leadership in sustainability and social responsibility.