BOULDER, COLO. — The quest for sustainability is nothing new for the pet food and treat industry. From ingredient sourcing to resource conservation, packaging solutions to environment protection, social equity to fair labor — the sustainability mission reaches far and wide in the pet industry. The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) was created to help steer the industry through its sustainability journey, and PSC leaders like Allison Reser, the director of Sustainability & Innovation, keep the industry’s collective mission on track.
“Because the pet industry is inherently about caring for living creatures, there’s a certain amount of compassion that is automatically baked into what we do,” Reser said. “However, we still constantly have to be talking about the business case for sustainability and ROI.”
In the following Q&A, Reser shares how she’s channeling her passion for sustainability, pets, communication and public speaking into support for PSC members and the pet industry as whole.
PFP: How did you get your start in the pet industry, and how did that experience lead you to where you are now?
Reser: My background is all in corporate sustainability. My entrance into the pet industry came as a result of my choice to move from New York City to Boulder. I wasn't necessarily targeting the pet industry when I was looking for a job, but through some mutual connections — mostly through Chris Bentley, one of PSC’s co-founders — I found out about the Pet Sustainability Coalition. I thought since my professional experience was in sustainability, and I have loved pets and animals my whole life, that PSC seemed like a really awesome opportunity. It felt like a real “stars aligning” moment, because I started the job at PSC the same week that I moved to Boulder. I started out as project manager in October 2023, just churning out projects for our members. And then last May, we had an internal opening for the director of sustainability and innovation position, so I applied and ended up taking on that role.
PFP: What has been your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?
Reser: Because the pet industry is inherently about caring for living creatures, there’s a certain amount of compassion that is automatically baked into what we do. I’ve experienced the pet food industry as being a very feel-good industry. However, we still constantly have to be talking about the business case for sustainability and ROI, which is normal in any industry. I think an evergreen challenge of working in sustainability is that there are a lot of compelling moral and ethical reasons for why businesses can be and should be a force for good, but when it comes down to a decision that needs to be made, a business leader in our industry, and every other industry, is going to be looking for the return on investment. So, I think that one of the biggest challenges is finding those ROI examples. There are lots of examples, like if you put in solar, or if you end up making your supply chain more sustainable, it will end up being more resilient long term. We’re always collaborating with business leaders to show how sustainability aligns with their strategy and delivers long-term value.
PFP: Tell me about a professional accomplishment in the pet industry that you are proud of.
Reser: There are a lot of things that PSC has done that I’m really proud of. I think, most recently, our launch of the benchmark assessment is very exciting, because we finally will have actual data to show how the industry is changing over time. Our hope is that our members, and really anyone in the industry, fill that out every year so we can document our change. In the past, we’ve said we’re creating change, but we didn’t have the data to back that up. So, now we’ll have specific data in a couple of years. So, that’s been a big, full team effort that I’m really proud of.
On a personal level, I’ve discovered that I really love public speaking. Last November, I was asked to participate in BlogPaws’ REAL Talks. I got to work with a speaker coach to prepare myself to get on stage and talk about sustainability in the pet industry to people that hadn't really thought about that before. That was a really exciting moment for me.
PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?
Reser: At PSC, what’s always top of mind is our pillars — people, planet and pets. Then, of course, we like to touch on materials, ingredients and packaging. We are always trying to update our research so we can turn our data into actual recommendations. To give an example, instead of saying if you own a manufacturing plant, you should do an energy audit, find your hotspots and then fix that. Instead, we want to get even more specific than that. For instance, we know that typically the dryer is the machine that’s the most energy intensive, so, if you are going to research updating your equipment, the dryer is probably a good place to start. We want to get really specific about what is relevant to the pet industry, find the data and make recommendations based off that.
PFP: If you could pick trends influencing the industry today, which are the most important and why?
Reser: In the realm of environmental and social impact, the biggest trend that I’m seeing right now is this notion that customers want to buy a sustainable product, but they don’t actually know what that means. I’m hearing a lot about how customers and pet owners are confused, and that there’s pressure for brands to do more consumer education. We’re helping brands realize their sustainability strategy is made up of specific things — perhaps packaging, ingredient sourcing and more specific claims that help customers understand why the product is sustainable. You’ve got to get back to the pet parent to explain to them why your ingredients are important, why this new formulation style is good for your pet. It always goes back to education. Pet parents aren’t just going to know these things. I feel like brands don’t do enough educating.
Another important trend is extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. There’s a financial implication to EPR laws, because the less sustainable your packaging is, the more fees you will have to pay in certain states in the United States and in different areas of the world.
“What I’ve learned since joining the pet industry is what’s in the bag has a bigger impact than the bag itself,” said Allison Reser.
PFP: What is something about the pet industry that people outside of the industry may not realize?
Reser: I think a lot of people have never considered the environmental impact of their pet before. People care about sustainability in their own life, they’re shopping at bulk grocery stores and recycling, but their pets get left out of that lifestyle. I think I’ve seen the light bulb go off for some people — they suddenly realize, “I should be thinking about these same things for my pet.”
Along with that, one of the biggest realizations that I’ve had is about packaging. Customers usually think that packaging has the biggest impact. When you ask someone, “how do you act sustainably?” the answer is usually about recycling. The first thing everyone wants to do is recycle. But flexible plastic packaging is not recyclable. What I’ve learned since joining the pet industry is what’s in the bag has a bigger impact than the bag itself. Of course, packaging should be part of a sustainability strategy, but it shouldn’t be the only thing.
PFP: What advice would you give to other women in this industry?
Reser: I’m new to the industry so I guess I actually have more gratitude to give. There are a few parts of the pet industry, a few events that I’ve gone to, that are more male dominated, and I want to thank the women at those events that have been really kind to me and welcoming, even though we were in the minority. I hope that we keep lifting each other up and being nice to each other. In some industries, women face more competition or barriers, but in pet, I’ve found so much kindness and support. I’m really thankful and grateful to all the women leading this space.
Allison Reser’s cat, Nova.
| Source: Allison ReserPFP: Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? And, if you have pets of your own, tell us a little bit about them.
Reser: I’m definitely a cat person. I have a cat tattoo that I got before I joined the Pet Sustainability Coalition. I love that people have dogs, they’re very cute, and they unconditionally love you. But I just love cats for a couple of reasons. They are independent, you can leave them alone during a long workday and they’ll be okay. I also like that you have to earn a cat’s love. When my cat cuddles with me, it’s like a miracle, I’m so thankful she showed me affection. It’s a complicated, funny thing.
Allison Reser is the director of Sustainability & Innovation for the Pet Sustainability Coalition, where she oversees programs that address climate action, sustainable packaging and responsible sourcing. With a Master of Science degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University, Reser has diverse experience ranging from environmental education to circular economy advocacy. A skilled project manager and public speaker, she collaborates with industry leaders to create scalable solutions.
Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Women in the Pet Industry series.
