Enifer’s mycoprotein proves 7x more sustainable than soy

FINLAND – A groundbreaking carbon footprint study has revealed that Enifer’s mycoprotein ingredient, PEKILO®Pet, is seven times more carbon-efficient than soy protein concentrate, positioning it as a game-changer for sustainable pet nutrition.

Finnish biotech company Enifer, a leader in mycoprotein production, recently conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the Carbon Footprint (CFP) of its proprietary ingredient, PEKILO®Pet. 

The findings underscore Enifer’s commitment to sustainability, showcasing the ingredient’s remarkably low environmental impact compared to traditional pet food proteins.

With the global pet population on the rise, concerns about the environmental impact of pet food are growing. 

Studies suggest that the ecological footprint of cats and dogs can rival humans, depending on their size and diet. As pet owners and manufacturers seek more sustainable alternatives, Enifer provides that PEKILO®Pet is a promising solution.

The study reports that the cradle-to-gate total CFP of PEKILO®Pet, including emissions from fossil sources, biogenic sources, Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUC), is just 0.93 kgCO₂e per kilogram of product. 

Incomparable to soy and other alternatives 

By comparison, soy protein concentrate generates up to 6.7 kgCO₂e per kilogram—a staggering 86% higher carbon footprint. 

To put this into perspective, Enifer purports that choosing PEKILO®Pet over soy protein concentrate could save emissions equivalent to driving 46 kilometers in an average gasoline-powered car.

PEKILO®Pet also outperforms other alternative proteins in terms of sustainability. Insect protein powder, for instance, has a CFP of 1.15 kgCO₂e per kilogram, while high-quality dry pet food ingredients like lamb produce about 5.84 kgCO₂e per kilogram. 

These comparisons highlight the immense potential of mycoprotein as a low-carbon alternative in the pet food industry.

The study further breaks down PEKILO®Pet’s emissions, revealing that production processes account for the largest share (47%), primarily due to electricity and steam usage. 

Raw materials contribute 38% of emissions, while transportation makes up the remaining 14%. The fossil CFP for PEKILO®Pet alone stands at 0.80 kgCO₂e per kilogram, with raw materials being the primary driver at 45% and production processes at 38%.

A key advantage of PEKILO®Pet is its minimal land-use impact. Unlike conventional protein sources, the production of PEKILO®Pet requires no direct land use for growing feedstock, resulting in an exceptionally low LULUC CFP of just 0.00213 kgCO₂e per kilogram.

Enifer CEO Simo Ellilä expressed enthusiasm over the study’s results, stating, “We are incredibly pleased with the findings, which validate the environmental benefits of PEKILO®Pet and our production process in Kantvik, Finland. These results reinforce our mission to offer sustainable, high-protein solutions to the pet food industry.”

Looking ahead, Enifer plans to scale up production, with ambitions to establish new PEKILO®Pet facilities across Europe.

“Expanding our production capacity will be a significant step toward reducing carbon emissions in pet nutrition while maintaining high nutritional standards,” Ellilä added.

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