Page 23 - Packaging News magazine March_April 2023

PREMIUM PACKS FOR PRIZED PETS
A walk down the pet food aisle will open your eyes to how trends have changed in recent years. Pets are increasingly treated as family members, and owners are ever more discerning when it comes to feeding their pets and, as such, are willing to pay more for high quality, nutrient-rich food. With global, local and niche brands all sharing the same supermarket shelf, competition has never been greater; this is where pack- aging comes into play. As more and more pet food brands launch premium ranges, the range of packaging has also grown, and flexible plastic packaging has emerged as one of the most popular formats, used for dry food and wet food.
As with any consumer goods pur- chases, pet owners’ purchasing habits are influenced by sustainability. PWC’s 2022 Sustainability in Retail and Consumer Goods Report found that sustainability has risen sharply and consumers now expect more from
69%
of households across the country are home to one or more pets, and spend over $33 billion on them.
retail and consumer goods busi- nesses. The survey revealed that Australian consumers have the desire to purchase from busi- nesses with strong values and they seek products with traceable pro- duction and transparent origin, and products that are biodegradable and
eco-friendly.
In 2021, Victorian packaging man-
ufacturer O F Packaging announced a merger with sustainability solutions provider Close the Loop, creating Close the Loop Group. The collabo- ration has proved to be worthwhile
– working together to help meet global sustainability legislation and contribute
positively to the environment, the group has been heavily involved in the introduction of mono-based polymer solutions for soft plastics.
Jessica Ansell, marketing manager at O F Packaging says, “Moving towards sim- pler packaging specifications is a key part of the global sustainability strategy for packaging, and flexible packaging in par- ticular has been a challenging area for the industry. As a business actively recover- ing post-consumer materials such as soft plastics with a primary focus on progres- sion to a circular economy, Close the Loop Group is proud to be able to offer a range of mono-polymer alternatives to the market.”
O F Packaging offers a range of fully recyclable pet food packaging options including flat pouches, stand up pouches, quad seal/gusset bags and, of course, its PIDA Gold Award-winning Fold, Roll ‘n’ Recycle bags.
Ansell goes on to say, “We’re helping brands create award-winning, industry- recognised packaging with end-of-life in mind, without compromising product protection.”
Pet care trends may change in the future, but pet food packaging needs remain consistent.
Like human food, pet food must be packaged in a way to maintain nutrients and health benefits while also prolong- ing shelf life. If they are to stay relevant in this competitive market, manufactur- ers must promote their products with eye-catching designs and graphics to set themselves apart. This must all be done while not conflicting with sustainability trends and consumer values. ■
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