Pet Food Processing - May 2024 - 72

PACKAGING
When it comes to pet food consumers, the push toward
sustainable packaging alternatives is also strong.
According to London-based Mintel,
56% of pet owners wish pet food packaging
was easier to recycle, and 55%
of pet owners prefer to purchase pet
food brands that are actively working
to limit their environmental impact.
" It's no secret that consumers
have been asking for more sustainable
products for years, " said Jacob
Reinke, marketing manager, Amcor
Flexibles North America, Oshkosh,
Wis. " Now we need to think about the
Amcor offers recycleready
rollstock and
pouch packaging
options. The rollstock
applications can be
used on horizontal
and vertical form-fillseal
lines and pouch
offerings include
stand-up, flat bottom,
pinch bottom and
fold-over glued bottom
pouches.
Amcor
and 34 are willing to go out of their way in terms of distance,
convenience and price to purchase products that
come in more environmentally friendly packaging.
Additionally, 54% of younger consumers always or often
base their purchasing decisions on sustainable packaging,
compared to 33% of consumers ages 35 and older,
and 25% of consumers ages 55 and older. Nearly half
(48%) of younger consumers noted unsustainable packaging
is often or always a deal-breaker when it comes to
purchasing that product.
Many of these consumers are willing to pay more for
sustainable packaged products. Seventy-nine percent of
younger consumers surveyed said they would pay more
for eco-friendly packaging, with a majority of this group
stating they would spend up to 25% more. This is compared
to only 56% of consumers ages 35 and older, and
41% of consumers ages 55 and older.
next generation that will start earning and growing their
buying power: Millennials and Gen Z. This demographic
is hyper-focused on sustainable products and initiatives.
Seventy-seven percent of this demographic states
that they would switch to a more sustainable product
and pay more for it. So, the sustainable push is not going
away anytime soon - it's here to stay, grow and adapt to
different initiatives. "
Processors respond
Pet food processors are heeding the demands of their
pet parent consumers to offer such packaging alternatives,
and they're passing those expectations down the
line to their supply chains.
" It's been somewhat of a waterfall demand, " Reinke
explained. " Consumers placed demands on retailers for
more sustainable products. Retailers pushed producers
for more sustainable products and packaging. In turn,
the producers have pushed all their input suppliers to
meet the needs of the retailers and consumers. "
Whether it's stemming from consumer influence
and demand or just from a desire to do the right thing,
many pet food processors have sustainability initiatives
as part of their short- and long-term corporate goals.
Chilliwack, British Columbia-based Petcurean issued
its third-annual Sustainability Impact Report last year,
detailing its environmental, social and charitable initiatives
including packaging alternatives.
" We are actively addressing the significant challenges
posed by climate change, with a particular focus on reducing
our environmental impact through innovative
packaging solutions, " Petcurean said in the report. " Last
year, we commissioned a third-party life cycle assessment
to compare the sustainability of our non-recyclable
bags with recyclable alternatives. "
The company has set a goal to transition the majority
Thanh Phu was a founding member of the Pet Sustainability
Coalition's Packaging Pledge launched at SuperZoo 2022.
Thanh Phu Packaging Co.
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Pet Food Processing - May 2024

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