Alexander says it's not clear how much different animal feeds affect the

environment.Commercially available cat and dog foods are not typically made with premium
cuts of meat. often contain by-products of

How to calculate the carbon cost of these debris is an ongoing debate, says Gregory Orkin, an
environmental scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Some argue that pet food by-products are essentially free because they come from animals that
have already been raised for human consumption. Others have pointed out that every calorie
requires energy, so there are environmental costs. Even a little meat can have a big impact.