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Over 2 million pounds of food saved
and counting
Over 2 million lbs of food saved
and counting
it's called upcycling
it's called upcycling
What does upcycling mean at Shameless Pets? It means finding high-quality, nutritious, and pet-adored ingredients that otherwise would go unused, and baking them into delicious treats for cats and dogs.
Did you know preventing food waste is the #1 action individuals can take to fight climate change? Not that it's easy . . . while you may not be able to prevent throwing away fridge leftovers, you can buy upcycled treats for your pets!
We prioritize working with North American suppliers to find sustainable solutions to rescue foods that would otherwise go to a food waste destination. This is good for the planet and good for pets! To date, we've saved over 2 million pounds of food while treating pets with drool-worthy, healthy treats.
We rescue nutritious foods
We focus on nutrition first and foremost, making sure all food that goes into our treats are packed with nutrients. For example, the pumpkin we upcycle also helps support pups' digestive health!
These upcycled ingredients go through rigorous protocols and testing to ensure they’re of the highest quality before bringing them home and living their best second life as Shameless Pets treats.
We turn it into healthy treats for your pets
It's sustainable for us all
The result?
Delicious, sustainable dog and cat treats, that are good for the pets and good for the planet.
Our upcycled foods
Our upcycled foods
The food that passes our high standards are categorized into two categories:
misfits or surplus
Misfit
Reality is, farmers don’t just grow perfect-looking produce. Much of their harvests are different shapes, colors, and sizes. But due to the grocery stores' high cosmetic standards, those twisty carrots and twirly beets can't be sold. Although these foods were once turned away because they just didn’t fit in, we’re proud of these individualists who grew their own way.
When you see sweet potatoes, blueberry, beet, carrots, pumpkin, or bananas, in your Shameless Pets treats, just think of a wonky looking (but still delicious) version of those ingredients, and that’s exactly what’s going into our treats. Just as tasty, but a little weird looking.
Surplus
What happens to the apple pulp after apple juice is freshly squeezed? Or butternut squash after they’ve been zoodled away? These foods are packed with nutrients that have tons of health benefits, like butternut squash for digestive support, and egg shells for healthy bone support. But because these aren’t the main products, they get tossed aside.
That's where we come in. When you see apple pomace, butternut squash, egg shells, salmon skins, or sunflower seed meal, your pets are indulging on the surplus goodies.
We proudly partner with upcycled ingredient producers from all over the US.
- apple
- banana
- beet
- blueberry
- butternut squash
- carrot
Pounds saved: 25,571
Benefits: fiber, vitamin A & C, offers digestive support
Found in:
Pounds saved: 24,541
Benefits: potassium and fiber, promotes healthy skin and bone growth
Found in:
Pounds saved: 7,108
Benefits: vitamin C & fiber, boosts immune system
Found in:
Pounds saved: 25,571
Benefits: antioxidants, fiber, & vitamin C, boosts immune system
Found in:
Pounds saved: 8,421
Benefits: fiber & antioxidants, offers digestive support
Found in:
Pounds saved: 6,762
Benefits: fiber & vitamin A, boosts eye health
Found in:
- eggshell
- lobster
- pumpkin
- salmon skins
- sunflower meal
- sweet potato
Pounds saved: 2,467
Benefits: calcium, supports bone health
Found in:
Pounds saved: 38,726
Benefits: glucosamine & chondroitin, supports hip and joints
Found in:
Pounds saved: 4,560
Benefits: fiber & vitamin A, offers digestive support
Found in:
Pounds saved: 10,477
Benefits: omega 3 fatty acids, supports skin & coat
Found in:
Pounds saved: 304,479
Benefits: protein & vitamin E, supports skin & coat
Found in: all soft baked biscuits & dental sticks
Pounds saved: 95,598
Benefits: fiber, vitamin A & C, offers digestive support
Found in: all jerky, calming chews, & cat treats
A complete look at our impact so far
based on number of pounds used in production through July 2021
| Ingredient | Pounds saved |
| Sunflower Meal | 714,389 |
| Sweet potato | 178,477 |
| Lobster | 55,450 |
| Apple | 52,033 |
| Banana | 60,734 |
| Blueberry | 37,656 |
| Salmon skins | 15,170 |
| Butternut Squash | 13,729 |
| Beet | 11,308 |
| Carrot | 11,706 |
| Pumpkin | 9,870 |
| Cheese | 3,498 |
| Eggshells | 3,688 |
| Catnip | 572 |
| Blackberry | 150 |
Our sustainability efforts go beyond just food.
Our sustainability efforts go beyond just food.
Upcycling is our main gig - 100% of our everyday products have been certified by the Upcycled Food Assocation. We are always improving our supply chains to incorporate more nutritious ingredients into our treats.
Without taking our eyes off the upcycling ball, we strive toward sustainable business practices in the production and distribution of our treats, too.
As of 2020, Shameless Pets has officially transferred all of our pouches to be made with 30% PCR (post-consumer recyclable) plastic bottles and milk jugs. Since the start of the brand, it's always been our goal to make thinner treat pouches, so we can reduce our overall plastic usage.
80% of the our product line is made with solar energy- a sustainable solution that has the least negative impact on the environment compared to any other energy source, which reduces our dependence on fossil fuel.
We're not stopping there.
We're not stopping there.
Though we're proud of the amount of foods we've saved to date, we've still got a long way to go.
Our goal by 2025?
upcycle
5 million pounds
of food
upcycle
3 million pounds
of food
A thanks to our partners
A thanks to our partners
Creating a more sustainable future is a big feat, and we can't do it alone. We're thankful for the organizations on the journey of achieving our mission!
Shameless Pets is one of the first pet care brands to be upcycled certified by the Upcycled Food Association (UFA)- the world’s first third-party certification program for upcycled food ingredients and products. All of our everyday products are certified by the UFA.
