122. Sustainability, Storytelling & The Future of Pet Innovation

In this episode of the Pets Add Life Podcast, hosts Chris Bonifati and Kristen Levine continue their coverage from Global Pet Expo 2026. They explore new research on dog ownership trends, fascinating discoveries about ancient canine evolution, and conversations with two industry leaders helping shape the future of pet products. From sustainability and responsible sourcing to the power of authentic storytelling and video marketing, this episode offers valuable insights for pet parents, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals alike.

Story Time features: Chris shares findings from APPA’s latest State of the Industry Report, revealing that 53% of U.S. households now own a dog—an increase representing approximately 4 million additional dog-owning homes since 2024.

Kristen highlights new research showing that dogs displayed remarkable diversity in size and skull shape more than 11,000 years ago, challenging the long-held belief that most breed diversity originated only in recent centuries through selective breeding.

Special Guests: Jim Lamancusa, Executive Director, Pet Sustainability Coalition

Greg Rollett, Marketing Strategist, Head of Video at The Grommet & Startup Pavilion Host, Global Pet Expo

Pet Product Recommendations: World’s Best Cat Litter Health Check-In – https://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com

JoJo Modern Pets Natural Dog Chews & Toys – https://jojomodernpets.com

Q&A Topics: Best ways to keep a dog mentally stimulated, including puzzle toys, snuffle mats, enrichment games, and DIY feeding activities. (Submitted by Kevin from Boston, MA)

How to balance being a loving pet parent without becoming a pushover, while using positive reinforcement to encourage better behavior. (Submitted by a Global Pet Expo attendee)

Related Links: Pet Sustainability Coalition: https://www.petsustainability.org

The Grommet: https://www.thegrommet.com

Global Pet Expo: https://www.globalpetexpo.org

American Pet Products Association (APPA): https://www.americanpetproducts.org

DOGTV: https://www.dogtv.com

Pets Add Life: https://www.petsaddlife.org

Social Channels: Pet Sustainability Coalition (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/company/pet-industry-sustainability-coalition/

The Grommet (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/thegrommet

DOGTV (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/dogtv

Pets Add Life (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/petsaddlife

Pets Add Life (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/PetsAddLife

Pets Add Life (TikTok): https://www.tiktok.com/@petsaddlife

Pets Add Life (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@petsaddlife

Subscribe & Listen: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts!

Submit a question to the podcast: https://www.petsaddlife.org/podcast

Presented by: American Pet Products Association (APPA) & DOGTV