Pet Food Processing - January 2024 - 58

PACKAGING
to boost innovation and efficiency. These partnerships are
beneficial as more consumers call for sustainability
measures.
Production efficiency remains an
important part of the sustainability
message, including preventative maintenance
and allocation of funds to improve
efficiency in operations. An inefficient
With an increase of
fresh pet food on the
market, packaging
suppliers are offering
processors similar
technology to what's
traditionally been used
in the human food
market, such as this
Tuff Chub™ film from
TC Transcontinental.
TC Transcontinental
Flexible formats can also differentiate products on the
shelf through the use of matte finishes, metallic inks and
holographic print techniques to attract the consumer to
interact with the package while investigating the product
contents and brand messaging, according to Jake Reinke,
marketing manager, Amcor Flexibles North America,
Oshkosh, Wis.
ProAmpac, Cincinnati, Ohio, offers flexible packaging
with sustainable attributes making up 100% of its packaging
portfolio with retort packaging for moist and semi-moist
pet foods. The ProActive Recycle Ready Retort: RT-3000 is
available in stand-up and three-sided seal configurations.
The ProActive Intelligence Technology also extends shelf
life and reduces food waste for improved product safety.
Centering on sustainability
Partnerships between packaging equipment manufacturers
and co-manufacturers allow companies to act as mentors
machine uses more energy and could therefore
impact the overall efficiency of an organization, according
to Julian Stauffer, chief executive officer, Waldner
North America, Wichita, Kan.
" As a machine manufacturer, we want to create highefficiency
machinery, " he continued. " When equipment is
efficient, you'll produce a certain amount and get it out the
door in a timely fashion. This is all a big part of sustainability
and a lot of it is behind the scenes to show accountability. "
The optimization of packaging approaches is also key
to achieving sustainability goals. One key consideration is
the natural resources and energy going into the production
of the packaging. Metal and some forms of plastic are recyclable,
but the lightness of plastic can offer a lower carbon
footprint. A pouch can provide an even lower carbon
footprint, taking up less space in the warehouse and being
lighter for transport. A direct benefit on carbon emissions
can result from efficiencies in transportation.
Increased efficiency is part of the strategic capacity
growth plan of Simmons Pet Food, Siloam Springs, Ark.,
the largest private-label and contract manufacturer of wet
pet food in North America. The plan includes an investment
to increase the speed of its 3-oz canning line by 50%
and the speed of the cup packaging line in its Flex plant in
Emporia, Kan., by 50%. Simmons produces wet pet food in
package sizes including 3- and 5.5-oz aluminum cans, 5.5-,
13.2- and 22-oz steel cans, 3-, 3.5- and 5.3-oz pouches, and
2.7- and 3.5-oz cups and split cups.
Promoting recycling
Despite these innovations, more packaging choices for
consumers and their pets means additional waste is being
generated. The pet food and treat industry is responsible
for producing an estimated 300 million lbs of plastic
waste annually in the United States, according to the Pet
Sustainability Coalition, Boulder, Colo.
Even a material like metal, which is considered to be a
sustainable solution for its ability to be infinitely recycled,
can be problematic. Many consumers do not understand
metal can be recycled. Trivium Packaging, Amsterdam,
produces 100% infinitely recyclable sustainable metal
Nestlé Purina packages its wet pet food formulations in a
number of different formats including aluminum and steel
cans, rigid plastic containers and flexible pouches.
Nestlé Purina
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Pet Food Processing - January 2024

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