Interview with Prof. Dr. Jan Beyne, Professor for Sustainability Management at the Antwerp Management School

What trends and developments influence sustainability in the pet industry and what should pet companies be aware of?

I believe sustainability is becoming one of the defining transformation themes for the pet industry. We see a clear shift from sustainability being a “nice to have” toward it becoming a strategic necessity.

Several key trends are shaping this evolution, and we want to research this better with the whole industry:

• Growing expectations from pet owners, especially younger consumers, who increasingly link pet care to broader lifestyle values such as climate responsibility, animal welfare and transparency.
• Regulatory developments, particularly in Europe, around packaging waste, recyclability, ingredient sourcing, and the substantiation of sustainability claims. Companies will need to prepare for stricter reporting and compliance requirements.
• Innovation pressure in ingredients and protein sources, including alternative proteins (insects, algae, fermentation-derived inputs) and regenerative agriculture approaches.
• Circularity and packaging redesign, with strong momentum toward recyclable, refillable or lower-impact packaging solutions.
• Rising demand for traceability and credible data, as retailers and consumers increasingly expect proof behind sustainability statements, not just marketing narratives.
   

Pet companies should therefore be aware that sustainability is moving quickly from voluntary initiatives to a core business capability — influencing product development, supply chains, and long-term competitiveness. The growing interest in the Sustainability Sessions at Interzoo 2024 shows that the sector is ready to accelerate learning, collaboration and action.

What are you most looking forward to at the Interzoo Sustainability Conference?

What I am most looking forward to is the opportunity to see how sustainability in the pet industry is maturing from ambition to implementation.
In particular the keynote contributions, which often provide an excellent overview of the major sustainability challenges and innovation pathways for the coming decade. But also the presence of diverse participants across the value chain — from ingredient suppliers and manufacturers to retailers, researchers and policymakers. Most importantly, the quality of the discussions, where practical experiences, barriers and best practices are shared openly. I believe Interzoo provides a unique platform for pre-competitive dialogue, and I look forward to conversations that help the industry move toward more resilient, transparent and circular business models.

Do you own a pet?

Yes — I own a dog, a Labrador called Dali. He was originally trained as a blind guide dog, but he unfortunately failed his final exams — mostly because he was simply too friendly and social with everyone. He is an incredibly warm and gentle dog, and especially wonderful with my two-year-old daughter. He truly reminds me every day of the strong emotional bond between pets and people, which is also why sustainability in this sector matters so much.

As a pet owner, which products at Interzoo interest you the most? What would you like to see?

As a pet owner, I am particularly interested in products that combine high quality with genuine sustainability improvements.

For example:

• Pet food innovations, especially around responsibly sourced ingredients, alternative proteins, and functional nutrition that supports long-term health.
• Toys and accessories, where durability, safe materials, and circular design principles (recycled or recyclable materials) are increasingly important.
• Healthcare and wellbeing products, including supplements, allergen-safe nutrition, and preventive care solutions.
• Packaging solutions that reduce waste, such as refill models or fully recyclable formats, would also be very interesting to see more of.

Overall, I would like to see products that demonstrate that sustainability in the pet industry can enhance both environmental impact and animal wellbeing — not trade one off against the other.

Dear Professor Beyne, we thank you for the interview and look forward to your workshop at the Interzoo Sustainability Conference on 11 May 2026