The U.S. pet industry spending figures and future outlook provided by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) shows that in 2019 U.S. pet food and pet care expenditure in the overall pet market reached $95.7 billion, with a 5.7 percent increase over 2018, and within that, pet food and treats accounted for $36.9 billion. Like most industries, sustainability has grown into a major force driving packaging in pet food and treats. Recyclable and compostable packaging materials have come a long way, and packaging innovations continue to be developed that could make their way into the pet space. When it comes to sustainability efforts, winning multiple awards in the 2020 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition, Hill’s all PE “recyclable” pet treat bags manufactured by Plastic Packaging Technologies, LLC (PPT), received a Silver award in the Sustainability category. With a packaging description that stated: Overcoming all conventional limitations known from using only polyethylene (PE) films for highly engineered packages, these all PE laminated bags allowed the international brand-owner to launch into fully “recyclable” flexible packaging formats without any compromises in appearance or performance. Combined innovation in new materials, equipment and processing methods features results with equal clarity, graphics, aesthetics, rigidity, puncture-resistance, machineability, barrier properties, grease-resistance, varied closure options and easy-opening with laser-scoring. In fully recognizing the current uncertainties of requirements around the recycled PE material for end-markets, the EVOH barrier film also incorporates the compatibilizing additive to neutralize any potential negatives to the recycling stream.
The award-winning pouch is made from the Thrive™ line of sustainable packaging materials from PPT where Totani was tapped for its pouch converting equipment. Totani offers an option package to more efficiently produce all PE or all PP pre-made pouches. To learn how Totani’s machinery can help you in sustainability efforts, visit their website at www.totaniamerica.com.
