Who Owns Pedigree?

Mars has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with a 50% reduction target by 2030 against a 2015 baseline. As of 2024, Mars reported a 16.4% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain from the 2015 baseline. Pedigree manufacturing operations are included in this commitment.

Mars is scaling regenerative agriculture practices in its supply chain. The company has a goal of delivering more than one million acres of regenerative agriculture practices by 2030 globally. In 2024, Mars announced partnerships to transition 150,000 acres in North America, specifically supporting wheat, corn, and rice farmers who supply ingredients for Pedigree and other Mars Petcare brands.

Mars is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to redesign packaging across its pet food portfolio, including Pedigree. The goal is to create packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Mars has also increased its use of post-consumer recycled content in pet food packaging. However, Pedigree packaging is not currently fully recyclable in most markets, as multi-layer plastic packaging used for dry pet food is difficult to recycle through standard municipal systems.

Mars has implemented a Water Stewardship Strategy that reports a 36% reduction in the gap to sustainable water use in its value chain since 2015. Pedigree manufacturing facilities have implemented water efficiency projects, particularly in high-risk watersheds.

Pedigree does not carry independent sustainability certifications such as USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project, or B Corp certification. The brand's ingredient sourcing claims are based on Mars' internal supplier standards rather than third-party verification. Mars requires all suppliers to comply with its Supplier Code of Conduct, which prohibits forced labor, child labor, and discrimination.

In 2024, Mars Petcare US voluntarily recalled 315 bags of PEDIGREE Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak and Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food in the 44 lb. bag size. The recall was due to the potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag. The affected products had a Best By Date of March 4, 2025, and Lot Code 410B2TXT02. The recall was limited to products sold at Walmart stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. No reports of pet injury or illness were connected to this incident. Mars Petcare worked with Walmart to remove affected products from inventory.

Pedigree has faced scrutiny from pet health advocates regarding ingredient quality. The brand uses grain-based formulations with corn and wheat as primary ingredients, which some pet owners and veterinarians view as less nutritious than higher-protein, grain-free alternatives. However, veterinary nutritionists generally agree that grain-inclusive diets are appropriate for most dogs, and there is no regulatory action against Pedigree's formulations.

In 2018, the FDA began investigating a potential link between grain-free dog food and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. This investigation primarily affected grain-free brands, not Pedigree, which is grain-inclusive. The investigation did not result in recalls or regulatory action against any brand, but it shifted consumer attention toward grain-inclusive formulations, which benefited Pedigree to some extent.

Pedigree has not faced significant environmental controversies beyond the general scrutiny applied to the pet food industry for its use of animal-based proteins and packaging waste. Mars Petcare's sustainability initiatives address these concerns at the corporate level.