Scratch has become Australia’s first B-Corp certified dog food company, andonly the fifth in the world.
B-Corp measures how consciously a business makes its products, from how ittreats its staff to the processes its suppliers to operating sustainably.
Mike Halligan, Co-Founder of Scratch, said it is important to not ignore theenvironment and earth’s resources when making a product.
“There are more than enough old companies with profit as the only driver andthat’s unlikely to change anytime soon. It’s on newer brands to operate withmore than just profit in mind and hopefully open up supply chains and consumerexpectations that drag the big old companies to a more sustainable future.”
Halligan pointed to the labeling ethics and consumer transparency within thepet food industry as an area that needs radical improvement.
“As a product that most dogs eat day in, day out – it’s vital for dogs healththat the average dog owner can easily compare the key health markers and foodcontent of anything they’re want to feed their dog.
“Unless they feed raw or feed Scratch, no Aussie dog owner right now has anyidea whether their food contains 8 per cent of the meat promoted on thepacket, or 30 per cent. They have no idea where meat or any other ingredientfor that matter comes from, what part of it, how it’s treated and what itmeans for their dogs health.”
Halligan said that brands name things differently, invent claims, weigh thingsdifferently to manipulate ingredient lists, and all other sorts of tricks, andthat it is something that needs to be changed as soon as possible.
In a statement on their website, Scratch, who suffered AusPost setbacks lastyear, said in 2021 they managed to raise over $100,000 to donate towardsclimate action and dog welfare through their Paws for the Planet program.
Over the past year, Scratch has managed to carbon offset 100 per cent of last-mile deliveries, launch two new local warehouses, launch biodegradablecompostable poop bags, and create 93 per cent of items using recyclablepackaging.
“The Scratch book of business is pretty simple. Do whatever the opposite of‘globodogfood’ do. The planet and your dog will be better off for it. Not surewhy we’re telling you – you’re already doing more than your bit!”
Tagged: B-Corp, Scratch
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