Finnish biotech company Enifer has announced the results of a carbon footprint study, indicating that its mycoprotein ingredient, PEKILO® Pet, is seven times more carbon-efficient than soy protein concentrate. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study reveals that Pekilo Pet has a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of 0.93 kgCO₂e per kilogram, compared to soy protein concentrate, which generates up to 6.7 kgCO₂e per kilogram. This represents an 86% reduction in emissions.
The study also highlights that Pekilo Pet produces fewer emissions than insect protein powder (1.15 kg CO₂e) and high-quality dry petfood ingredients such as lamb (5.84 kg CO₂e). The primary sources of emissions in Pekilo Pet’s production are the production process (47%), raw materials (38%), and transportation (14%).
Enifer plans to open its first €33 million production facility by early 2026. The facility will produce 3,000 tonnes of Pekilo Pet annually from agricultural and food industry by-products. The company is also exploring additional factory locations worldwide.
The company’s CEO, Simo Ellilä, stated that the results of the study support Enifer’s commitment to providing sustainable ingredients to the petfood industry. The Pekilo Pet ingredient is produced through a biomass fermentation process that uses a unique fungal strain to produce a protein-rich, low-fat, and low-carbohydrate product.
The study was conducted using projected estimates from Enifer’s Kantvik production facility for 2025, and the company noted that further assessments, including additional environmental indicators, may provide a more comprehensive evaluation.
