How the Smartest Brands Are Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity
Pet retail in Germany isn’t what it used to be. Rising costs, shifting consumer expectations, and economic uncertainty have made customer loyalty harder to earn – and even harder to keep. But while many brands are struggling, a select few are thriving. They’re not just surviving the storm; they’re pulling ahead, growing faster, and locking in fiercely loyal customers.
What’s their edge? Not bigger ad budgets. Not discount wars. They’ve cracked the code on sustainability – not as a PR move, but as a powerful growth engine.
How Smart Pet Retailers Are Using Sustainability to Win More Customers
The old approach to sustainability – recycled packaging, a few donations, a “green” marketing claim – used to be enough. Not anymore. The best in the business are doing something different. They’re turning sustainability from a checkbox into a competitive advantage.
Here’s how:
- Beyond Just “Eco-Friendly” Products – Offering organic treats and biodegradable packaging isn’t enough. The real winners build entire brand experiences around sustainability that customers can feel, engage with, and be part of.
- Turning Purpose Into Profits – Sustainability is no longer a cost center. It’s a revenue driver. Smart brands integrate real impact initiatives—like tree planting, plastic collection, or coral reef regeneration—into the customer journey. The result? Higher conversion, deeper loyalty, and customers who buy more, more often.
- From Claims to Proof – The days of vague sustainability claims are over. The brands seeing real growth are measuring, proving, and showcasing their impact—down to the last kilogram of plastic removed or trees planted. And customers? They love it.
This shift is not only good for our planet. It is also changing the way customers connect with brands.
We’ve seen what’s working. We know what’s not
At Impact Hero, we help turn sustainability into a growth driver. We help pet retailers to develop their sustainability strategy from a superficial to a holistic strategy. And we know exactly how to turn sustainability into a customer magnet.
Here’s what we do differently:
- ✅ We Help You Create Tangible, Measurable Impact – Customers don’t just want promises. They want proof. We help you implement trackable impact initiatives—so customers see their effect in real-time. This can all be communicated on your own Impact Landing Page.
- ✅ We Make Sustainability a Sales Driver, Not a Cost – From cause-driven loyalty programs to interactive impact campaigns, we tie sustainability directly to customer acquisition and revenue growth. With over 400+ integrations, we can power a variety of use cases from gifting a tree for every order to a kg of plastic collected for every newsletter sign up.
- ✅ We Tell Your Story in a Way That Sells – Customers don’t connect with statistics. They connect with stories. We help you craft powerful narratives that turn your sustainability efforts into a compelling reason to buy. Your customers can see the impact in action with moving photos & videos from our partner projects on the ground.
What do market leaders say about sustainability strategy?
“Sustainability at zooplus is more than just a green logo on a package.
For us at zooplus, sustainable action means constantly questioning ourselves and striving for continuous improvement. Together (...) we can contribute to the preservation of our planet.”
- Hanna Schreyer, Head of Sustainability, zooplus
Sustainability isn’t just about doing good anymore. It’s about winning.
The only question is: Will you lead the change – or get left behind?