Developing Dog Biscuits from Industrial by-product

Abstract: Have you ever wondered how we can reduce food waste and at the same time provide a more sustainable and eco-friendly environment to all of us? One of the United Nations goals is to bring by 2030 more responsible consumption and production to the environment. Industries are paying annually for solid waste disposal up to 16,000€ and at the same time, the most preferred way to dispose it is through landfill and composting. The purpose of this project is to sustainably upcycle the industrial by-product by incorporating it as a complimentary snack for canine consumption. The main goal is to become familiar with the left-over material as an ingredient in order to incorporate it in a recipe. Possible recipes were created in order to incorporate the by-product and having as a guide the new food product development process. The baked biscuits were studied for colour and texture. Audio-visual material was given from the dog owners in order to study the reactions of the dogs but also the perspective of the dog owners. The results showed that some of the formulations were in close range from the commercial dog treats. There was positive environmental feedback from the dog owners’ perspective regarding the sustainable way of utilising the industrial by-product. Moreover, further improvement needs to be conducted to gain more engagement from the perspective of the dogs. The outcome of this project was significant because through this action the circularity of the economy has a way to be improved. Also, the industrial by-product is upcycled into a pet snack and it enhances the overall improvement of food waste.