Dry Cat Food (5kg bag)

Material Composition Assumptions

A typical 5kg bag of dry cat food contains approximately 1,170g of poultry meat and byproducts representing the largest single ingredient category. The grain components include roughly 1,025g of maize or corn serving as the primary carbohydrate source, along with 305g each of soybean meal and corn gluten meal providing plant-based protein. Rice and wheat ingredients combine to contribute around 400g of additional grain content.

Animal protein sources extend beyond poultry to include approximately 155g of fish and fish byproducts, plus 430g of other animal byproducts from various livestock sources. The remaining weight consists of vitamins, minerals, preservatives, and flavor enhancers totaling roughly 210g.

The packaging system employs a multilayer construction combining an outer paper layer for printability and structure, an inner plastic liner for moisture protection, and an intermediate aluminum foil barrier preventing oxygen infiltration and extending shelf life.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary manufacturing occurs across the United States where major pet food conglomerates operate large-scale production facilities. The US grid intensity of 401 gCO2e per kilowatt-hour reflects the mixed energy portfolio combining natural gas, coal, renewables, and nuclear power sources feeding these manufacturing plants.

American dominance in this sector stems from abundant agricultural feedstock availability, established supply chain networks connecting grain producers with meat processing facilities, and proximity to major consumer markets reducing distribution distances. The integrated nature of US agriculture allows pet food manufacturers to source multiple ingredient categories from geographically concentrated regions.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
United States	401 gCO2e/kWh	68	Baseline
European Union	253 gCO2e/kWh	61	-10% lower emissions
Brazil	87 gCO2e/kWh	52	-24% lower emissions
China	555 gCO2e/kWh	75	+10% higher emissions
Canada	130 gCO2e/kWh	56	-18% lower emissions

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Submit ingredient-specific lifecycle assessments for poultry meal, corn, soybean meal, and other major components including farming practices, processing methods, and transportation distances from source to manufacturing facility.

2. Provide detailed energy consumption data from manufacturing operations including electricity usage during extrusion, drying, coating, and packaging processes along with any on-site renewable energy generation or carbon offset programs.

3. Document packaging specifications including exact material compositions, layer thicknesses, recycled content percentages, and supplier locations for paper, plastic, and aluminum components.

4. Supply transportation and distribution records covering ingredient delivery to manufacturing sites, finished product shipment to distribution centers, and final delivery to retail locations with specific vehicle types and fuel consumption data.

5. Present facility-specific operational data including waste heat recovery systems, water usage efficiency measures, manufacturing yield rates, and any circular economy initiatives for ingredient byproduct utilization.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions covering ingredient production, manufacturing, and packaging but excluding retail distribution, consumer use, and end-of-life disposal phases.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate the profile due to agricultural production of animal and plant ingredients requiring significant land use, fertilizer application, and livestock farming inputs upstream of manufacturing.

• The functional unit assumes standard feeding guidelines providing complete nutrition for an average adult cat over approximately three to four months of consumption.

• Excluded impacts include facility construction, equipment manufacturing, research and development activities, marketing materials, and consumer transportation to purchase locations.

• Data gaps exist around regional ingredient sourcing variations, seasonal agricultural yield fluctuations, and specific animal welfare practices affecting emission intensities across different supplier networks.