As the pet industry grapples with the 300 million pounds of flexible plastic packaging it generates annually—99% of which is currently unrecyclable—innovative solutions and consumer education are becoming more crucial than ever to the achieving a more circular economy for pet food and treat packaging. This episode highlights the progress being made toward this goal, while also addressing the barriers that remain along the supply chain and within the recycling sector.

Helpful Links

Packaging Sustainability is the Future! https://bsmpartners.net/insights/packaging-sustainability-is-the-future/

2025 sustainability targets loom for pet industry: https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/18048-2025-sustainability-targets-loom-for-pet-industry

Mars doubts it can achieve 2025 sustainable packaging targets, in Packaging Dive: https://www.packagingdive.com/news/mars-recyclable-packaging-sustainability-report-2023/722578/

Deciphering Sustainability Claims on Pet Food Packaging: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/deciphering-sustainability-claims-on-pet-food-packaging/  

Chasing Arrows: What Does It Mean For Recycling? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chasing-arrows-what-does-mean-recycling-bsm-partners-tm80c/

Show Notes

00:00 – Welcome Back!

01:53 – The Plastic Packaging Problem

03:53 – Innovative Solutions in the Pet Product Space

05:31 – Persisting Challenges

07:05 – Big Brands Make Big Commitments—But Can They Keep Them?

10:55 – Unpacking Limitations in Recycling

12:58 – Driving Change Through Technology

15:09 – The How2Recycle Label & Consumer Education

17:10 – Final Thoughts