BOULDER, COLO. — Three of the largest pet food and supply distributors serving independent pet retailers across the United States are now a part of Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), an organization uniting the industry behind more sustainable business and product development methods.

Phillips Pet Food & Supplies and Animal Supply Company (ASC) join Pet Food Experts as PSC members. Pet Food Experts was the first distributor member to join PSC and played a central role in the company’s recent pilot recycling program for pet food packages, Flex Forward, alongside Earth Animal.

“Bringing industry leaders together is a necessary escalation in supporting the large-scale efforts that must be mobilized to advance sustainable business practices worldwide,” said Michael Baker, chief executive officer of Pet Food Experts. “We are making sustainability a priority and this partnership is a step forward in our commitment to reduce the overall environmental impact in our day-to-day business operations.”

Through the Flex Forward take-back recycling program, Pet Food Experts collected approximately 33,500 used pet food and treat packages at retail locations in the Pacific Northwest, potentially saving 8,000 lbs of flexible plastic from landfills in late 2020 and early 2021.

PSC reported its two new distributor partners are “ready to take action and with robust enthusiasm.”

“As part of our commitment to the pet industry and the environment, Phillips Pet Food & Supplies is proud to become a new member of the Pet Sustainability Coalition,” said Blaine Phillips, chief executive officer of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies. “We see our partnership with Pet Food Experts and Animal Supply as the first step in our effort to lessen the environmental impact our industry has on the planet.

“As we begin a new chapter in the evolution of Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, we are proud to strengthen our environmental focus as well as helping to enhance our manufacturer and retail partners focus on sustainable business practices,” Phillips added.

The coalition hopes to accelerate and scale its current sustainability programs with the addition of Phillips and ASC, especially following a year of hardships faced by many independent retailers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At Animal Supply Company, our vision is to have a world where every pet and human is happy, healthy, and safe,” commented Tim Batterson, chief executive officer of ASC. “This means taking an active responsibility in protecting our planet earth through meaningful sustainability practices that lead to a cleaner and more eco-friendly future for our families, retail partners, and vendor partners. We’re proud of our industry forging this partnership with PSC and we look forward to making a difference in changing this world through aggressive social responsibility aimed at protecting the environment.”

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