In December 2023, the world's first "carbon-neutral" pet clothing, Jelly Fish, officially received certification. The sustainable pet fashion brand ZOZORIKA, in collaboration with the environmentally friendly yarn company UPW, created the global pioneer in "carbon-neutral" pet apparel. With the assistance of Carbon Newture, the carbon footprint was calculated and offset, leading to the acquisition of a product carbon-neutral certificate from an authoritative third-party certification body.
Amidst the surge in the "pet economy" trend, what historical background and stories does this carbon-neutral pet clothing carry?
The "carbon-neutral" pet clothing from the sustainable brand ZOZORIKA
The certification certificate for the world's first "carbon-neutral" pet clothing
01 Billion-Dollar "Pet Economy" Blue Ocean Set for Sustained Growth
As early as 1931, Louis Vuitton introduced customized pet travel bags. From France's Hermès to Italy's Prada, from Gucci's pet GG jackets to Celine's travel bags, in recent years, an increasing number of luxury brands have entered the pet industry. Fundamentally, these brands have recognized the prospects and value of the "pet economy".
The development of the pet economy stems from the evolution of pet identity and significance. Taking dogs as an example, from hunting dogs, herding dogs, and guard dogs to companion dogs, with the development of society and the economy, the functional value of dogs has gradually shifted towards emotional value. Due to changes in population structure (such as empty nesters, singles, and DINK households) and shifts in modern human psychology (such as individualism and social anxiety), there is an increasing demand for pet companionship. 63% of consumers consider pets as intimate family members[1], marking a shift in identity perception that drives the upgrading of pet consumption patterns.
Research indicates that in 2022[2], the global pet market had a consumer spending scale of $261 billion, projected to reach $350 billion by 2027. As a rapidly emerging pet powerhouse, China ranked third globally in pet food consumption and second in pet supplies consumption in 2022. Another study predicts that by 2025[3], the Chinese pet economy market size will reach ¥811.4 billion (approximately $110 billion). Rough estimates suggest that China's pet market accounts for about one-third of the global market. Currently, there are nearly 100 million pet-owning households in China[4]. The prospect of a billion-dollar "pet economy" blue ocean is highly anticipated.
02 "Low-Carbon Sustainability" to be the Next Wave in the "Pet Economy"
"Love them, spend on them." This raw and realistic statement applies equally to pets, reflecting the emerging trend of anthropomorphism in pet consumption. Simultaneously, it has given rise to a vast pet industry chain. From traditional pet clothing and accessories to emerging smart pet care devices, the development of the "pet economy" is closely tied to the consumption capacity and beliefs of pet owners.
The "carbon-neutral" pet clothing from the sustainable brand ZOZORIKA
As environmental issues become increasingly prominent, concepts such as "climate change," "sustainable development," and "low-carbon green consumption" are continuously integrating into the public's consumer outlook. Data indicates that nearly 70% of pet owners are "concerned about climate change" and are "trying to positively impact the environment through daily actions"[5]. The evolving consumer mindset prompts companies in the pet industry to take more actions to promote sustainable development, such as using materials with lower energy consumption and carbon emissions, setting sustainable development goals, and achieving carbon neutral for pet products.
"Low-Carbon Sustainability" will be the next wave in the "Pet Economy," and major pet brands are actively positioning and powering up. For instance, NeoBites, the first carbon-negative pet food company in the United States, not only uses insect protein with a lower carbon footprint in pet food but also achieves carbon neutral for the entire company by purchasing carbon offset credits. Royal Canin, a subsidiary of Mars, has developed a comprehensive carbon emission plan, including the use of renewable energy, sourcing sustainable materials, reducing waste output, and promoting circular economy initiatives, with a commitment to achieving carbon neutral by 2025.
03 The Story Behind the World's First “Carbon-Neutral” Pet Clothing Officially Certified
Achieving low-carbon sustainability in the "pet economy" relies crucially on responsible consumer purchasing. Offering consumers low-carbon sustainable products will be the breakthrough point for pet brands to stand out in the billion-dollar "pet economy" blue ocean.
What kind of low-carbon sustainable story is behind the world's first "carbon-neutral" pet clothing?
The "carbon-neutral" pet clothing from the sustainable brand ZOZORIKA
The sustainable pet fashion brand ZOZORIKA, which made a stunning debut at the inaugural Shanghai Pet Fashion Week, has unveiled its AW01 "MAKING WAVES" full-knit collection. Inspired by the vibrant coral reefs of the underwater world, this collection features a range of environmentally friendly materials, including luxurious cashmere from UPW, a leading global sustainable yarn company, and recycled ocean plastic yarn. Among them, the Jelly Fish, a ruffled all-cashmere pet sweater, has obtained product certification for "carbon neutral".
This pet clothing utilizes luxurious cashmere provided by UPW, reducing carbon emissions at the source by employing high-quality, environmentally friendly, and sustainable yarn with lower carbon emissions. The low-carbon level of raw materials supplied by upstream suppliers can to some extent directly determine the carbon footprint of downstream enterprise products. The concept of low-carbon consumption can transfer decarbonization efforts from the consumer end to the production end through low-carbon consumption behaviors. This bottom-up approach effectively pressures the entire industry chain to undergo low-carbon transformation, making a consumer-driven contribution to global efforts in addressing climate change.
The carbon-neutral yarn provided by UPW allows consumers to scan a QR code to view the product's low-carbon information
In addition, ZOZORIKA has taken measures such as 3D virtual pattern-making technology and recycling high-quality surplus materials to minimize material and process waste during the production process. Moreover, this pet clothing can be recycled to gain a new life after the end of its usage cycle, achieving true low-carbon sustainability throughout its entire lifecycle from "cradle" to "grave“.
Scientifically verifying actions, ensuring compliance and authority, and avoiding "greenwashing" are equally important. Sustainable development is not just a slogan; translating principles into actions and demonstrating tangible results require data. Teaming up with CarbonNewture, ZOZORIKA utilized the CarbonNewture digital carbon management platform to conduct a full lifecycle carbon footprint assessment for this pet clothing, following internationally recognized carbon footprint assessment standards (ISO 14067:2018). Through carbon offsetting, the product achieved carbon neutral and obtained authoritative certification.
Finally, ensuring that consumers maintain a high level of awareness about their purchases of "carbon-neutral" products is crucial. Uploading the carbon information of pet clothing products to the "International Carbon Information Disclosure Platform for Textile and Apparel" ensures the traceability of carbon data. As shown in the diagram below, consumers can trace the basic information of the "carbon-neutral" pet clothing they purchase, carbon footprint assessment results, emission distribution throughout the lifecycle stages, and the approach to achieving carbon neutral through the platform.
Scan the code to view details on the "Carbon Information Disclosure" page:
The carbon information disclosure page for the world's first "carbon-neutral" pet clothing
The "International Carbon Information Disclosure Platform for Textile and Apparel" empowers carbon management through digital technologies such as blockchain, ensuring the immutability, security, privacy, transparency, full traceability, and accountability of carbon data. As shown in the diagram below, once on the blockchain, the carbon information of this "carbon-neutral" pet clothing can be traced with a single click, and the original data cannot be arbitrarily altered. This ensures the high transparency of product carbon information while fully safeguarding data security. This means that consumers can access the most authentic and reliable carbon information, eliminating concerns about purchasing "greenwashed" products and contributing to a more sustainable low-carbon consumption market.
The details of the blockchain on-chain information for the world's first "carbon-neutral" pet clothing's carbon information:
The low-carbon sustainability of pet clothing ultimately reflects the brand's commitment to sustainable development. Both ZOZORIKA and UPW believe that "carbon neutral" and "sustainability" should not merely be sentimental notions; true implementation by businesses requires speaking with "facts," and carbon footprint accounting data is the most scientific proof. Therefore, in collaboration with CarbonNewture, a company with rich experience in carbon footprint certification and product carbon neutral, they have implemented a comprehensive carbon footprint calculation-verification-disclosure service.
As a frontier in responding to sustainability issues and a billion-dollar "pet economy" blue ocean, the pet industry looks forward to more sustainable brands embracing low-carbon upgrades.
Reference：
[1]《2023中国宠物经济消费洞察报告》
[2]《中国宠物行业发展指数报告(2023)》
[3]《2022-2023年中国宠物产业发展及消费者调研研究报告》
[4]《2023年宠物市场消费白皮书》
[5] 欧睿国际全球生活方式调查