Purpose
Petfood is well positioned to support waste reduction, given its use of high quality meat by products that aren’t typically consumed by humans. We set out to create a circular system by integrating the C&D Foods petfood business into the wider structure of ABP, enabling nutrient rich by products from human food production to be converted into premium pet nutrition.
Action
Our circular model begins at the point of primary processing. When cattle and other livestock are processed, a range of nutritious materials – such as organ meats, specific cuts and trimmings – do not enter the traditional retail channel.
Instead of being discarded or downgraded, they now enter the ingredient base used by C&D Foods. We established robust internal logistics and quality assurance systems to collect, chill and transport these materials to C&D manufacturing sites. The system reduces C&D’s reliance on additional livestock production and supports a more sustainable sourcing model.
Impact
The most immediate impact has been a substantial reduction in waste. ABP has prevented high quality by products from being discarded and reduced the need for C&D to source alternative raw materials for its petfood.
That has also delivered meaningful reductions in carbon impact. Because the petfood division sources a large portion of its ingredients from ABP’s existing operations, it reduces the need for additional livestock rearing or separate supply chains.
As retailers and foodservice partners increasingly expect supply chains to demonstrate efficient resource use and reduced waste, the ABP–C&D Foods integration stands out as an example of how to use whole animal value.