Reshaping Pet Food Industry With Sustainable Packaging
Sustainability is currently the biggest trend in packaging. Even in the pet food industry, people are starting to use packaging that’s better for the environment. Also, pet owners are paying more attention to how products, like pet food, are packaged and how that affects the planet. Studies say that 74% of people are okay with spending extra money on packaging that reduces their carbon footprint.
No doubt, the pet food packaging companies have a promising future, but it depends on making a big change towards eco-conscious practices. In the United States, pet food companies make around 300 million pounds of plastic bags for pet food and treats every year. Surprisingly, only about 1% of these bags are disposed of in a way that doesn’t end up in a landfill.
Moreover, keep in mind that customers form an opinion about your brand very quickly, and your eco friendly boxes are the first thing they notice. So, you only get one shot to make a good impression!
What Do Pet Food Buyers Want In Terms of Sustainability?
Today, more and more people care about buying products from companies that share their values. It also includes choosing food for their pets! Here are some important pointers to remember when it comes to how people buy pet food now:
- Pet owners are paying more attention to keeping their pets healthy. They want food with good ingredients that help prevent health problems. Also, they want pet food made locally, with organic ingredients, and minimally processed.
- People tend to buy pet food in larger amounts to reduce the use of excessive packaging.
- They look for pet food that comes in big bags that can be sealed again and are strong enough to last.
- The labels on eco friendly boxes matter a lot! Words like “recyclable,” “organic,” “Cruelty-Free,” and “BPA-Free” can influence what people choose to buy.
Considering all these pointers will help you design packaging that meets both sustainable practices and buyers’ demands.
4 Ways to Make Pet Packaging More Sustainable
A significant portion of our consumption, including pet food, comes packed in plastic packages, taking anywhere from 10 to 1,000 years to break down. Pet food producers have difficulty finding ways to make their packaging more eco-friendly. However, four emerging innovative solutions aim to reduce landfill space usage.
Reusable
As people have become more concerned about the environment, pet stores will likely let customers bring their containers to refill with dog food. Once you finish the food, you can drop off the empty containers at specific places. Then, the containers get cleaned, filled up again, and put back on the shelves for others to use.
It’s a wonderful way to help the planet by cutting down on waste in the pet industry. Open Farm Pet Food is already doing this.
Compostable
Compostable bags can naturally break down over time due to water, oxygen, and organic matter exposure. It can be an effective trick to reduce plastic in pet packaging.
Reasons why compostable bags are underused in pet packaging?
- They’re expensive for pet packaging companies to produce.
- They often sell at a higher price than treats in less sustainable packaging.
- Many compostable bags struggle to keep products fresh.
- They may not be durable enough for warehousing and shipping.
Mechanically (Conventional) Recyclable
Pet owners want to recycle their dog food bags, but it’s a bit challenging. Some companies are making bags from materials that can be recycled or adopting packaging designs that reduce the consumption of raw materials. To determine recyclability;
- Look for a designated recycling symbol on the packaging.
- Consult your local municipality to confirm if the material is accepted for curbside recycling.
- Plastics labeled as #1, 2, 5, and 7 are generally widely recyclable.
- Plastics marked as #4 and 6 may pose greater difficulties in the recycling process.
Chemically (Advanced) Recyclable
Chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, uses technology to turn plastic waste into chemicals that can be used to make new products. TerraCycle offers this kind of recycling. So, you can send them your eco friendly boxes, and they break it down into pellets and then use it to make products (recycling). This practice will minimize waste and make packaging more valuable.
How do you make sustainable pet packaging look more authentic and credible?
To enhance credibility and transparency, seek third-party certifications such as:
- MSC Certified (Marine Stewardship Council)
- SCS Global (Sustainably Grown)
- RSPO or RTRS (Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil & Roundtable for Responsible Soy)
- Non-GMO,
- USDA Organic
- Animal Welfare Certified
- Renewable energy certifications
These verify ethical ingredient sourcing, traceability, and environmentally friendly practices, reinforcing authenticity in sustainable pet packaging.
Examples of Brands That Are Born Sustainable
Several brands have emerged with a strong commitment to sustainability from their inception. Some notable examples include:
- Scrumbles
- Nature’s Fresh
- KARMA
Sustainable Ingredient Sourcing for Pet Food
Sustainable ingredient sourcing is the first step in a journey toward eco-friendly pet products. Just like how sustainable packaging focuses on using materials that are kind to the environment, sourcing ingredients sustainably ensures that what goes into our pets’ food doesn’t harm the planet either. It’s about making smart choices from the very beginning! By selecting responsibly grown or harvested ingredients, pet food companies can ensure that their products nourish our furry friends and contribute to a healthier planet for everyone.
To minimize negative impacts on the environment, ecosystems, and communities, we should focus on responsibly managing resources for the present and future generations’ well-being. We can make it possible in the following ways:
- Pet food companies can team up with sustainable suppliers like Ingredion for eco-friendly sourcing of plant-based ingredients for high-quality pet nutrition.
- Rendering turns billions of pounds of raw materials into nutritious pet food proteins and fats, cutting landfill waste.
- Exploring alternative proteins like fish, nuts, seeds, and even invasive species benefits the environment and provides omega-3s for pets, while insect proteins offer a sustainable option for pet food.
Make Sustainable Packaging A Luxurious Label
At Half Price Packaging, we understand the changing needs of the pet food industry – where sustainability and pet humanization intersect. That’s why we offer simple yet stylish pet packaging that’s both eco-friendly and top-notch. Our designs keep it minimalistic yet luxurious, giving your products that premium feel while staying true to eco-friendliness. We are adept at incorporating all the necessary details into labeling, such as ingredients, product names, calories, feeding directions, intended species, claims, guaranteed analysis, etc.
Choose Half Price Packaging to give your brand a boost while keeping things green and practical with our eco friendly boxes.
