LONDON — THE PACK announced it has achieved B Corp certification from B Lab, representing Europe’s first plant-based pet food startup to receive the certification, according to the company.

“It was important to become a certified B Corp so that customers know they can trust THE PACK,” wrote Damien Clarkson, co-founder of THE PACK, in the company’s announcement on Oct. 31. “Being a B Corp means that THE PACK is held to high environmental standards of verified social and environmental performance. So, when we say we are a mission driven company, or we care about the environment or have good governance, we can back this up through our B Corp Certification as we have been externally assessed and will continue to be reassessed every three years.”

According to Clarkson, THE PACK’s B Corp certification is just one of the company’s various efforts toward sustainability. In 2021, the company launched with plastic-free packaging and is currently rolling out its first dry dog food formula, Oven Baked Crunchy Feast, in paper-based, FSC-certified packaging.

In addition to using environmentally friendly packaging materials, the company’s formulas also offer sustainability benefits using only plant-based ingredients.

To achieve B Corp certification, THE PACK was assessed on five impact areas of its business: governance, workers, community, environment and customers. These areas include where it sources ingredients and packaging, how it treats its employees, how it delivers products to consumers while minimizing environmental impact, how it manufactures and tests its formulas, how it gives back to the community, and more. THE PACK received an Overall B Impact Score of 82.6. For reference, the median score for ordinary businesses that complete the assessment is 50.9.

“For us at THE PACK, the sustainably led way was the only way to try and do things as a brand,” Clarkson said.

Read more about sustainability efforts in the pet food and treat industry.