Wagalot has introduced DOGood, a new range of dog biscuits and meal toppers crafted from leftover fruit and vegetables rescued from Melbourne’s Prahran Market. The initiative diverts surplus produce from landfill, supporting Australia's efforts to reduce food waste and its environmental impact.
- DOGood products use rescued surplus market produce dried onsite
- Each kilogram of dog treats avoids up to 10 kilograms of food waste
- Model targets Australia's $36 billion food waste cost and emission cuts
What happened
Wagalot, a Melbourne-based pet treat company, recently launched a sustainable dog food line called DOGood that incorporates unsold fruit and vegetables from Prahran Market. Working with food waste specialist Eco Guardians, the produce is rapidly dehydrated at the market site and then processed in Wagalot’s factory into treats featuring added chia seeds, oatmeal, and canola oil.
This initiative aims to reduce landfill waste by repurposing edible food that would otherwise be discarded. Wagalot’s founders emphasize how processing the ingredients on site at the market minimizes further environmental impact, helping the business expand its offerings beyond previous dog cake kits to a broader wholesale and retail market across Australia and New Zealand.
Why it matters
Food waste is a major contributor to Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for about 3% annually and costing the economy an estimated $36 billion. Australia plans to halve food waste by 2030, but current progress suggests this goal is challenging. By diverting surplus produce at the source and upcycling it into consumer pet products, Wagalot and Eco Guardians are creating a practical example of circular economy benefits in action.
This approach not only reduces emissions associated with landfill decomposition but also creates valuable, shelf-stable products for pet owners who increasingly demand sustainable options. It highlights a potential scalable model where larger portions of market and supply chain surplus food can be redirected into consumer goods, potentially easing systemic food waste problems across Australia.
What to watch next
The success of DOGood as a mass-market pet treat brand will be an important indicator of consumer acceptance for products derived from rescued produce. Despite prior attempts by other companies to bring food-waste-based pet products to market, it remains to be seen if this category can grow sustainably and profitably.
Scaling the model could significantly impact food waste reduction if adopted by other markets and suppliers nationwide. Observers should also monitor how Wagalot balances growth with maintaining environmental benefits and whether similar ventures emerge, especially in climate-tech sectors concurrently developing insect-based animal feed alternatives.