PET Food Processing - December 2022 - 61

PACKAGING
More and more consumers are becoming concerned
about the environment and are choosing brands that are
making an effort to be sustainable. By using recyclable
packaging, pet food companies can show their commitment
to sustainability and attract more environmentally
conscious consumers. Committing to sustainability
could also help companies attract and retain talent.
" We are seeing more and more consumers increasingly
prioritize the purchasing decisions around the environment
and choosing to support brands that share their
values, " Mallier said. " And, as more Gen Z's start to enter
the workforce in the coming years, we know that they will
also seek out employers that share similar values. As such,
companies with strong sustainability practices - like those
that use recyclable packaging - will likely see an advantage
when it comes to attracting and retaining employees. "
Sustainable packaging solutions
Pet food and treat manufacturers have a variety of recyclable
packaging materials to choose from. The choice of
material depends on a number of factors, including the
type of product being packaged, transportation and storage
considerations, safety standards and cost.
" As we transition to more sustainable packaging
across our Primal Pet Foods line, we don't take a onesize-fits-all
approach, " said Megan Pearson, director of
major and strategic accounts and sustainability committee
lead, Primal Pet Foods, Fairfield, Calif. " We work
with our packaging suppliers to evaluate the different
recyclable materials available and determine which is
best suited for each product based on several factors. In
addition to protecting our food and treats while they are
being transported and handled, our packaging materials
need to be able to maintain our high standards for quality
and safety. "
Single-layer polyethylene is one of the most widely
used types of recyclable packaging for pet food and
treats. It offers a number of benefits, including being
lightweight, strong and moisture resistant. The singlelayer
construction also makes it easy to recycle, unlike
multi-layer materials.
" Traditional flexible packaging consists of a multilayered
structure with materials like polyester and
polyethylene... Recycling centers are unable to separate
the different films, thus rendering them unrecyclable, "
McCoy explained. " The packaging and pet food industry
is moving toward more sustainable, single (mono)
structure bags made of polyethylene that are recyclable
through store drop-off sites. "
" The companion pet industry creates more than
300 million lbs of flexible plastic packaging in North
America each year, " Dudas added. " Unfortunately, 99%
of multi-laminate packaging used for most pet food and
treats does not have a sustainable end-of-life solution
and ends up in landfills. Our Packaging Pledge supports
brands and suppliers as they commit to making measurable
progress towards refillable, compostable and/or recyclable
packaging solutions by the end of 2025. "
Thanh Phu Plastic Packaging Co., Ho Chi Minh,
Vietnam, is one company that has made a commitment
to sustainable packaging solutions. As a founding donor
of the Packaging Pledge and recognized pioneer in developing
sustainable flexible packaging, Thanh Phu has
been working to create more eco-friendly packaging for
the pet food industry.
" Pet food packaging, especially for kibble, requires
high-impact strength, large format pouches up to 20
kgs, " said Alex Dam, executive vice president, Thanh
Phu Plastic Packaging Co. " In addition, some pet food
and treats contain high protein and fat content, requiring
a hermetic seal with a good oxygen and moisture
barrier. Our Veloflex™ Low Density Polyethylene
(LDPE) solution provides outstanding heat sealability
and impact strength for a large temperature range
from sub-zero to normal warehouse temperatures.
Additionally, PE resin is abundantly available
with good economies of scale to meet the transition
from non-recyclable to fully recyclable
mono-polyethylene packaging. "
Overcoming
challenges
The many benefits of using
recyclable packaging materials
also come with some
challenges. These include
the properties of the materials
themselves, the
infrastructure needed to
recycle them, and consumer
education to ensure
that packaging is
properly recycled.
One challenge is finding
recyclable materials
www.petfoodprocessing.net | December 2022 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 61
As a founding
donor of the PSC's
Packaging Pledge,
Vietnam-based
Thanh Phu Plastic
Packaging Co. is
working to create
more eco-friendly
packaging for the
pet food industry.
Thanh Phu Plastic Packaging Co.
TC Transcontinental
proudly displays its
" 100% Recyclable "
icon on its pet food
packaging.
TC Transcontinental
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
PET Food Processing - December 2022

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