BioCraft Pet Nutrition reports 12-times lower emissions than beef byproducts in new carbon analysis

BioCraft Pet Nutrition has released a new product carbon footprint analysis showing that its cell-cultured ingredient emits just a fraction of the carbon dioxide associated with conventional beef byproducts commonly used in pet food.

According to the study, which was conducted with sustainability consultancy ClimatePartner, BioCraft’s proprietary BioCrafted Meat generates only 1.73kg of CO₂ per kilogram of product. In comparison, beef byproducts – such as offal, bones, fat and blood – emit around 21.28kg of CO₂ per kilogram. The figures are based on European beef production and calculated using internationally recognized standards, including the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and life cycle emission data from databases such as ecoinvent, Agri-footprint, and DEFRA.

The emissions gap is particularly striking given that beef byproducts are often considered a more sustainable option compared to whole muscle cuts. But the analysis found that even these non-human-edible portions of the animal carry significant environmental burdens.

“The difference in CO₂ emissions between BioCrafted Meat and conventional beef used for pet food is due to our unique production process, which harvests the full contents of the bioreactor, which also makes it quite different from cultivated meat production,” commented Dr Shannon Falconer, Founder & CEO of BioCraft. “The environmental impacts of raising cattle are caused by the entire animal, not merely the portions used in the human food supply.”

Unlike traditional cultivated meat designed for human consumption, BioCraft’s ingredient is produced specifically for pet food. It consists of unstructured animal cells – similar in texture and use to the meat slurries already found in many wet and dry pet foods – and is formulated to be used as a one-to-one replacement. The company’s first ingredient is made from mouse cells, a protein source it says is biologically appropriate for both cats and dogs.

The carbon assessment included all upstream stages of production through to customer delivery and end-of-life packaging disposal. It did not include emissions from final consumer product manufacturing or use, in line with standard practice for raw ingredient assessments. BioCraft’s process was modeled using mixed energy sources typical in the Netherlands.

Jakob Sterlich, CEO of ClimatePartner Austria , highlighted the efficiency of the process. “BioCraft’s approach demonstrates a high level of resource efficiency by maximizing product yield per volume of initial nutrient inputs, which directly contributes to the significantly lower carbon footprint of the ingredient. Such innovations are important steps in reducing the environmental impact of pet food ingredients, such as feed, water use, methane emissions, and land use.”

BioCraft's emissions estimate considers multiple greenhouse gases, including methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, calculated in CO₂ equivalents. The company notes that because the pet food industry often relies on ingredients assumed to have low emissions – like animal byproducts – it is critical to assess the real carbon cost of those materials.

The analysis arrives shortly after BioCraft received regulatory approval to sell its cell-cultured ingredients in Europe. The company says its ingredient fits seamlessly into existing pet food formulations, requiring no downstream processing and offering a nutritional profile suited to companion animals’ needs.

While consumers may not find mouse meat appealing, BioCraft maintains that both feline and canine taste testers have embraced it. Falconer says the company’s focus remains on providing sustainable, high-quality proteins that meet animals’ dietary requirements while minimizing the environmental burden of meat production.