In today’s world, consumers are quite particular about the labels of their products. It is possible to have recyclable cat food pouches, which help reduce waste but also give a visually appealing look. But it is not necessary that all kinds of products can be used in this kind of packaging. The rigid packaging, like tubs and jars, will still have its advantages.
But how would one decide on this? Here is an easy guide for pet food brands that will help them decide whether they need custom pet plastic packaging or not.
Why Packaging Is Necessary for Pets?
When it comes to packaging your cat food, it should ensure freshness, leak-proofness, and durability, and attract your customers from among so many competitors. Nowadays, consumers care about the recycling of products. This pushes many brands towards recyclable cat food pouches and other more sustainable formats. Retailers and regulators are also paying more attention to packaging waste.
Advantages of Reusable Cat Food Pouches
- More economical. Since pouches are involved, there will be less plastic used as opposed to tubs, which translates into savings.
- Conserve space. Flat empties occupy minimal space while in storage or being transported in transport carriers.
- Attention getter. Our stand-up pouches provide ample printable area; thus, you can easily share your story and communicate more about your products. Explore our cat food pouches to learn about different formats we offer.
- Best for portion control. Single-serving pouches are ideal for wet foods, treats, and toppers. Both cats and their owners will love the convenience.
Things to be aware of
Not every cat food is recyclable—historically, pouches have been made with multiple layers of material that are hard to recycle. The cat food pouches that you can recycle would be single-material structures with barrier properties because they still need to protect the food. Polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP).
Barrier needs—wet cat food requires high barriers. Discuss with your supplier your structure and recipe to be tested.
Accessibility—there are some locations where flexible packaging is brought back to the store. Research your local situation. Look into guidance for labeling such as How2Recycle and design considerations from the Association of Plastic Recyclers.
Advantages of Rigid Packaging.
Tubs, cups, and jars offer a number of benefits:
- Improved protection against compression, making them ideal for fragile paste-like items or high-value items.
- Portion control and reusability. Customers can easily portion and reseal for storage.
- Easy to recycle. Rigids such as PP and PET are accepted in many local recycling schemes.
- High-quality feel. With a heavier structure, they can look like a high-quality item.
They do, however, require more plastic and take up more space during transport. To look at rigid options, our plastic container manufacturers page and plastic jar range would be a good place to start.
6 Things to Consider Before You Choose
- Product type—wet, dry, treats, or toppers—will all behave differently during packaging.
- Shelf Life—If you intend for your product to have a longer shelf life, more barrier protection will be required.
- Recycling—Decide what claims you want to make about your packaging and ensure your supplier can deliver this for you whilst meeting local legislation.
- Cost—What is the overall cost of the packaging? (Printing, postage, storage & material)
- Fill Line—Ensure that your fill line can handle the packaging, whether it is pouch/flexible or rigid.
- Look and feel—what look and feel do you want your packaging to have?
Follow U.S. FDA guidelines for pet foods to ensure your packaging is safe to come into contact with food. Ensure the packaging materials meet the standard of the target market.
Which Is Right For You?
There is no single answer. Many brands will offer both options, using recyclable cat food pouches for everyday wet food and single-serve items, and rigid containers for high-end ranges or multi-use packs. To find out which is right for your product, sample some products and see how long they last on the shelf. Compare to overall costs.
For more information about similar packaging options, see our stand-up pouch page and eco-friendly packaging page. We also have a helpful guide about biodegradable vs. recyclable plastic jars.
Work With Yiruixing Packaging
With over 14 years of experience creating bespoke packaging solutions for brands around the world, Yiruixing Packaging can help you create custom cat food packaging. Whether you require recyclable cat food pouches, hard containers, or a combination of both. We can provide bespoke pet plastic packaging to protect your food and enhance your brand. Find out more about us and get in touch for samples and a free quote.
FAQs
- Are your recyclable cat food pouches as protective?
Yes, we design and test our recyclable pouches to ensure they will protect your product. We can run shelf life trials on your recipe.
- Can I have custom-designed cat food pouches?
Yes, we can offer bespoke sizes, shapes, printing, zippers, and tear notches for your brand.
- Are rigid packaging options better for wet cat food?
Not always. Whilst rigid packaging will protect your product from being crushed, our well-designed pouches will perform very well.
- What is bespoke pet plastic packaging?
Custom packaging for pet food and treats. This can be in the form of pouches, tubs, jars, and bottles.
- Do you deliver internationally?
Yes, we supply packaging globally. We supply to brands in the USA, the UK, and Germany.
