What Do You Know About Sustainable Pet Food Packaging
When it
comes to pet food
packaging, plastic laminated pouches have become nearly the standard
for product categories like dry food and treats. With superior graphics,
barrier properties and durability, plus often the convenience of a resealable
opening, plastic laminated pouches offer many positives.
Downside of Plastic Laminated Pet Food Pouches – NOT
SUSTAINABLE
The main
downside is that they’re not
sustainable. The multiple layers of material that comprise plastic laminated
pouches, contributing to their benefits, make them nearly impossible to recycle.
In other
words, those brightly printed, sturdy materials may ensure freshness on par
with human foods, but they can be a bear to recycle.
Especially
in the plastics market, very seldom will you find one plastic material that
will handle and give you all the properties you need. Usually they're going to
be multi-layer, either co-extrusions or adhesive laminations. When you start
making those types of multi-layer materials, even though it looks like one
single material, to recycle or send it through a process to extract those out becomes
very costly and very difficult. So usually, there's not a large recycling
stream there.
In fact,
the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) says the cost of recycling is more than the value of the plastic materials
in the package. “As a result, PSC estimates that over 99% of all pet food
bags in the U.S. are disposed of in a landfill rather than recycled,” according
to a press release.
The same
issue can apply to paper pet food bags with non-paper components, such as clear
plastic windows that allow consumers to see the product inside.
First stage of pet
food packaging recycling program shows success
The
ability to recycle packaging is increasingly important to consumers, along with
sustainability in general.
In an
early 2020 global survey of pet owners, Euromonitor found that 60% chose
“recyclable” as a trustworthy product label claim, over related claims such as
eco-friendly and locally sourced, both close to 55%, and sustainably produced
at nearly 50%. (Interestingly, other choices for label claims were not as
obviously related, including natural and organic, and these pet owners
considered recyclable and eco-friendly as more trustworthy.)
The
Euromonitor data appeared in a webinar by Kemin on sustainability in pet food.
Regarding sustainable packaging, the presenter said that alternatives to
plastic bags can include packaging made from recycled materials, 100% recyclable pouch
or compostable pouch,
and reusable containers.
All those
are indeed alternatives and are being tested by pet food companies and packaging suppliers.
A mount of companies
have realized our furry friends need more sustainable and nutritious foods -
without ever harming any animals or the environment. We all want our food to
arrive fresh, safely, in an appetizing manner with eco-friendly packaging, even
your pet family.
Dry Pet Foods? Wet Pet Foods? Pet Treats?Supplements? How
to Pack Greener?
BPS produces the world’s most
complete selection of sustainable
packaging solutions that perfectly meets the sustainable
requirements and enhances your brand image.
Blog Editor: Mike
Contact BPS Team: inquiry@bestpackagesolutions.net
Let’s make your product stand out in anywhere!
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