VN April 2022

Vetnews | April 2022 27 Since 1968, Royal Canin’s innovations have helped transform the health of cats and dogs. We have developed more than 550 nutritional offers based on rigorous veterinary science, each crafted and tailored tomeet the precise health needs of individual pets. Although our products have evolved over the years, our mission remains the same: we aim to transform the health and well-being of each cat and dog by pushing the limits of nutrition and expanding knowledge in partnership with pet professionals. Moving forward, we aim to draw on the same spirit of science-driven innovation to be a business that generates value not only for pets but also for people and the planet in a sustainable way. Royal Canin is part of the Mars Sustainable in A Generation Plan, which aims to identify and take action on the company’s societal impact, focusing on three interconnected areas: Pet’s well-being : To live our purpose – A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS - we promote responsible breeding and responsible pet ownership and share our knowledge globally to help understand and better care for cats and dogs. Healthy planet: we are helping to feed cats and dogs more sustainably by taking actions to reduce our carbon footprint and to redesign our packaging in line with circular economy principles. Thriving people: We believe we can and should play a role in increasing opportunities for people in the workplace and in the communities where we work. Royal Canin’s objectives are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Our unique approach always places cats’and dogs’nutritional requirements at the heart of the innovation process. Their age, lifestyle, size, breed, sensitivities and activity levels are studied through science and observation in order to design diets for each pet’s specific needs. We are constantly looking to improve and develop products and services using the latest cutting-edge technologies and knowledge that transform them into viable innovative solutions that can help improve the health of cats and dogs. “Optimal health is different for each pet. We believe that diets should cater to these nuances.” Our research and development team help us to innovate in different fields that share the common goal of improving pets’ health; the R&D team are also playing a leading role in developing lower-carbon formulas and more circular packaging options. THE ACTION AREAS ROYAL CANIN® WILL TAKE TO ACHIEVE CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2025 ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. Transition to renewable electricity by achieving 100% renewable electricity across our factories and offices while reducing energy consumption overall. 2. Procuring sustainable ingredients , Our nutrient led approach allows us to optimize our selection of ingredients and, in some cases, move beyond “conventional” ingredients to produce meals that offer equivalent or superior health benefits to dogs and cats; this includes switching to sustainably sourced proteins and low-carbon intensity ingredients. Examples of this include moving from fish oil to Algae in the sourcing of Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and using feathers as an alternative protein source as in our Anallergenicwhile also reducing environmental impacts throughout the supply chain. 3. Reducing waste and boosting circularity by significantly boosting recyclability, composability, and reusable packaging in alignment with Mars’s ambitious packaging sustainability goals. Together with partners, we are investing in research and development to help ensure that our next-generation packaging is fully recyclable while meeting rigorous food quality and safety standards. In South Africa, we are working on many initiatives to reduce waste and encourage earth-friendly behaviours, including our partnering with Imagined Earth, in a unique CSI initiative that encourages consumers to recycle with a reward. Royal Canin SA donates one kilogram of pet food to animal shelters across the country for every item recycled. We are pleased that we reached our 10 000kg goal sooner than expected. The red recycling machines are located at different malls in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. 4. Climate-smart business transformation, from management practices to the engagement of employees, suppliers and business partners in the journey. By 2025we aim to reduce the direct emissions from our factories and offices by 42%, we will be investing in more efficient equipment and processes, developing and deploying innovations that change the way we do things and decrease our energy use, water use and waste through changes in practice and behaviour. For any residual emissions that ROYAL CANIN® cannot completely remove or reduce, the brand will invest in high-quality, removals-based certified carbon credits. The use of removals-based credits is aligned with the SBTi Net Zero Foundations paper. By sourcingmore sustainably, we canbetter fulfil ourmissionof transforming each cat & dog’s health andwell-being by pushing the limits of nutrition and knowledge together with our partners. We help secure a viable future for our stakeholders and the next generation on this mutual journey. v Royal Canin's Purpose in Action