Pet Food Processing - May 2024 - 75

is extremely limited, particularly when you look at facilities
that allow compostable packaging to be collected
and processed, " Reinke said.
" Compostable materials are generally suitable for
small size and weight packages based on material performance
characteristics, " Dam said. " In addition, compostable
packaging has limited oxygen and moisture
barrier options - the basic properties that most foodbased
applications need. "
Compostable packaging often results in limited product
shelf life and requires specific storage and distribution
conditions, Dam explained.
" Lastly, there is a larger question with compostable
materials - under what conditions are they truly compostable? "
he added.
TC Transcontinental Packaging offers its vieVERTe®
compostable portfolio which includes BPI-certified industrial
compostable products that provide a sustainable
solution for packaging by diverting it from landfills.
Helping the consumer
Of course, pet food manufacturers can do their part to
provide sustainable packaging options such as recycleready
and compostable, but it's up to the consumer -
the pet parent - to close the circle and keep those packages
out of the landfill. Accomplishing this starts with
consumer communication.
" Communication that continues to educate consumers
is vital, " Reinke said. " Currently, most consumers
are still somewhat confused on what can be
recycled and what cannot be recycled. Additionally,
there is a lack of trust in younger generations in what
will truly be recycled. "
Using on-pack " How to recycle "
and " How to compost " labels is
an important part of consumer
education. The labels tell consumers
if the material can be recycled
or composted and where it can be
done.
" Consumers must learn to look
for a 'please recycle' or 'please compost
at home' label, and be able
to identify How2Recycle labels, "
Boden said.
Packaging suppliers can use
third-party verification to prove
their packaging is indeed recyclable
or compostable. After that, they need to
tell consumers what to do next.
" The information needs to be clear, " said Katie
Ireland, packaging engineer for Kansas City, Mo.-based
CRB. " Is the product recyclable or compostable? Is every
piece of the packaging properly labeled as recyclable or
compostable? Are the 'How to' labels scanning properly
so the consumer can get their packaging components to
the right destination for end-of-life cycle as designed?
" The package should be marked appropriately for the
consumer to know what recycle stream each piece of the
packaging must go in to either get recycled or composted, "
she added. " Correctly identifying each material for
the end user to get the packaging materials into their respective
channels to be taken care of properly is important
for a circular system to work. "
ProAmpac's
QUADFLEX®
Recyclable packaging
solution, which first appeared
on the market
through Nestlé Purina
PetCare's Pro Plan
Veterinary Diets line of
pet food, received a
2023 AmeriStar Award
in the shelf-stable
category.
Nestlé Purina
PFP
®
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