Pet Sustainability Coalition’s Impact Unleashed Draws Record Crowd, Expert Speaker Lineup

The Pet Sustainability Coalition‘s signature annual conference, Impact Unleashed, met in person for the first time since 2019. 170 pet industry professionals gathered in Boulder, CO June 6-7, more than doubling the previous in-person attendee numbers. The two-day event inspired purpose-driven leaders to meet the growing demand for sustainable products and companies.

“Impact Unleashed 2023 exceeded all of our expectations,” said Caitlyn Dudas, PSC’s Co-Founder and Senior Advisor. “It was a privilege to be surrounded by such bright, inspired, passionate people, and it left all of us emboldened by the opportunities we have to implement more sustainable practices in the pet industry. Ten years in, our movement is only beginning.”

PSC was fortunate to welcome this year’s Keynote Speakers, Paula Alexander, the Director of Sustainability at Burt’s Bees and the Clorox Company and Tina Owens, a Senior Fellow of Regenerative Agriculture at the Soil & Climate Alliance of Green America. Other inspiring speakers included Dustin Dover of MFiber, Megan Tuttle of Open Farm, Stephanie Volo of Earth Animal, Joanne Dwyer of PetSmart, Rich Kelleman of Bond Pet Food, Dave Carter of the Flower Hill Institute, Auden Schendler of the Aspen Skiing Company, Spencer Williams of West Paw, Chris Bentley of Pet Sustainability Coalition and many more. Discussion topics included everything from the nutritional benefits of regenerative agriculture, ESG reporting, protein and packaging panels, carbon inventory through Scope 3 and even ways to manage the growing problem of pet waste.

This 6th community event was like no other in the pet industry. “Our team members were inspired by the speakers and fellow attendees as we all seek to enhance our company’s sustainability efforts and create positive impact within the communities we serve,” said Spencer Williams, Founder and CEO of West Paw.

The organization is marking its 10 Year Anniversary this year and the event featured a celebration of the organization’s first decade of impact while looking ahead to the next 10 years. With inspiration, collaboration, education and celebration, Impact Unleashed remains the must-attend sustainability event in the pet industry.

Impact Unleashed was made possible through generous sponsorship from: MFiber, Hills, Earth Animal, Morris Packaging, Petco, West Paw, Peel Plastics, Pure Strategies, Moderna, rePurpose Global, Other Half Processing, DSM, Thanh Phu, Marine Stewardship Council and Wellness Pet. These sponsors not only contributed financially to the event but joined as co-hosts and special guests throughout the event as part of a truly engaging attendee experience.

For more information, please contact Kristen Smith, Director of Marketing, ksmith@petsustainabiloity.org.