Sustainable practices in the animal health industry: A stakeholder‐based view

Abstract

The animal health industry provides treatments and pharmaceuticals for live animal welfare and it is essential to ensure food security and meet sustainable development goals (SDGs). Still, its complexity makes it difficult to identify the driving factors in the adoption of sustainability practices let alone offer recommendations to foster their implementation, resulting in a comparative lack of academic research in this area and several gaps in the overall comprehension of the phenomenon. Building on the stakeholder theoretical framework and adopting multi‐country field research, this article offers both a theoretical and empirical contribution, highlighting the role of stakeholder perceptions in driving the adoption of ESI (environmental sustainable initiatives) and emphasising the need for effective communication, transparency and a consistent educational framework. Our findings also demonstrate that, by adopting overarching sustainability approaches such as the ‘One Health’ philosophy, animal health firms can integrate environmental sustainability initiatives into their operations, embedding the expectations and priorities of various stakeholders. This holistic approach will not only promote the well‐being of animals and humans but also help protect ecosystems and ensure the long‐term viability of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.