Dry Dog Food (10kg bag)

Material Composition Assumptions

A typical 10kg bag of dry dog food contains approximately 1,020g of poultry meat representing 10.2% of total mass, alongside 2,340g of poultry by-products comprising 23.4% of the formulation. Animal by-products constitute the largest single component at 3,200g or 32% of the bag weight. Plant-based ingredients include 2,050g of maize representing 20.5% of crop content, with soybean meal and corn gluten meal each contributing 610g or 6.1% of the total weight. Fish and fish by-products add 310g representing 3.1% of the formulation, while wheat and rice comprise smaller proportions of the remaining mass.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary manufacturing occurs in the United States where major pet food processing facilities benefit from proximity to agricultural production regions and established supply chains for both animal proteins and grain crops. The U.S. electrical grid operates at an intensity of 401 kgCO2e per MWh, reflecting a mixed energy portfolio of natural gas, renewables, and coal-fired generation. This manufacturing location provides cost advantages through integrated livestock and crop production systems while maintaining regulatory compliance for pet food safety standards.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
United States	401 kgCO2e/MWh	48.0	Baseline
European Union	295 kgCO2e/MWh	44.2	-7.9%
Brazil	85 kgCO2e/MWh	41.1	-14.4%
China	555 kgCO2e/MWh	52.8	+10.0%
Australia	634 kgCO2e/MWh	55.1	+14.8%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Supplier-specific ingredient sourcing documentation detailing the geographic origin and production methods for animal proteins, particularly poultry meal and by-product sources with associated carbon intensity data.

2. Manufacturing facility energy consumption records showing actual electricity usage, fuel consumption for thermal processing, and renewable energy procurement agreements that differ from regional grid averages.

3. Transportation logistics data including shipping distances from ingredient suppliers to manufacturing facilities, distribution center locations, and freight modal splits between truck, rail, and maritime transport.

4. Ingredient composition specifications providing exact percentages of animal versus plant-based proteins, novel protein sources, and alternative ingredients that deviate from industry standard formulations.

5. Packaging material specifications detailing bag composition, recycled content percentages, barrier film types, and end-of-life disposal or recycling pathways for multi-layer packaging systems.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions from ingredient extraction through manufacturing and distribution, excluding end-of-life disposal and pet consumption phases.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate the footprint due to upstream agricultural production, with animal protein ingredients generating substantially higher impacts than plant-based components.

• The functional unit covers one complete 10kg bag assuming average daily consumption rates of 177g for medium-sized dogs over the product lifespan.

• Excluded categories include pet waste management, packaging disposal, veterinary impacts from diet-related health outcomes, and land use change effects from feed crop expansion.

• Data gaps exist around regional ingredient sourcing patterns, processing energy efficiency variations between manufacturers, and allocation methods for animal by-product environmental burdens.