Sustainability in the pet food packaging sector: Tim Hansell

The lockdowns designed to curb the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic have triggered a pointy rise in UK canine possession, up from 9.9 million per-pandemic to 12 million as of early 2021. Pet meals manufacturing has risen to fulfill this new demand, however it has raised questions concerning the availability and sustainability of its packaging.

UK-based pet meals packaging firm Skinner’s CEO Tim Hansell tells Packaging Gateway why sustainability has change into a significant issue to contemplate within the pet meals packaging trade and the way the nationwide pet meals packaging scarcity offers proof to this.

The packaging scarcity state of affairs

The pet meals trade is price over £2.9bn and is predicted to develop 20% 12 months on 12 months. Nonetheless, a 12 months because the Covid-19 pandemic took maintain, UK supermarkets have introduced that the nation is going through a nationwide scarcity of pouch meals for canine and cats, as a consequence of this unprecedented rise in pet possession and the failure of provide chains to fulfill the brand new demand.

The scarcity of pouches is predicted to proceed all through 2021, that means that retailers shall be pressured to rethink their strategy in terms of packaging and provide chains. Covid-19 and Brexit have undoubtedly had an affect on the flexibility of sure manufacturers to maintain their cross-border provide chains flowing easily and sustaining merchandise on cabinets.

Demand for sustainability vs. desire for comfort

The problem throughout the trade is to assist shopper desire for each sustainability and ease, which has meant that pouches have continued to be a well-liked buy selection. What supermarkets have didn’t do on a big sufficient scale to fulfill demand, is provide merchandise which are sustainable and won’t face points with manufacturing/imports while additionally providing high-quality meals for canine.

With the wide selection of packaging merchandise now accessible within the trade, one kind of packaging doesn’t swimsuit each want, which has prompted points for a lot of producers who’ve seemed for a option to swap from their regular packaging. There’s additionally the problem surrounding the steadiness between utilizing eco-friendly packaging that can also be capable of retain the complete well being and dietary advantages of the product, and with all-natural elements sought by 41% of pet food patrons, there isn’t any room for compromise.

The sector and its supporting retailers should act rapidly to show the tide on the affect of single-use plastics as billions of pouches yearly are despatched to landfill, with commonplace pouches having one of many lowest recycling charges of all packaging. That is round 50 instances worse than the recycling price of single espresso cups which frequently draw media consideration.

Sustainability has change into crucial issue

The rise of the moral and health-conscious shopper, and the broader highlight on the sustainability agenda has pressured the considerably conventional pet trade to rethink each side of its providing, from packaging to manufacturing to ingredient sourcing.

The newest information exhibits that 80% of outlets discovered that their prospects’ demand has grown for sustainable packaging throughout its merchandise. For any enterprise that’s trying to not simply retain its present base however develop it, particularly within the ever-competitive pet food market, switching to sustainable packaging is now not a selection however a significant strand of operations that must be addressed.

Skinner’s: A case examine

At Skinner’s, we recognized the necessity to spend money on a long-term answer and manufacturing know-how that can assist us navigate this tough panorama and ship the perfect merchandise with out compromising on sustainability credentials or dietary values.

Skinner’s are this 12 months celebrating 50 years of producing high-quality meals for working canine and as a part of our celebrations have undergone a complete model refresh with new logos, NPD and the introduction of our 100% recyclable packaging which we manufacture and produce at our two onsite factories in East Anglia.

The up to date packaging on our Area & Trial vary utilises Tetra Pak, constituted of over 70% paperboard. Tetra Pak is main the concept a round financial system, the place each a part of the method has a constructive drive on making a change, offers option to constructive packaging for, on this case, the canine meals market.

We have now additionally launched a brand new treats vary which is packaged utilizing Earthpouch plastic-free paper packing options, with an aqueous coating, it’s 100% eco-friendly plastic-free paper packaging, proving that pouch packaging might be sustainable.

The capabilities to supply Tetra Pak on-site signifies that Skinner’s has not solely decreased its carbon footprint, however we don’t depend on imports and exterior producers which has proved invaluable through the nationwide packaging scarcity disaster.

Sustainability isn’t straightforward – however it’s price it.

The journey to take manufacturing sustainably in-house is certainly not easy, straightforward, or low cost because it requires heavy ranges of funding and dedication to get it proper, however the long-term affect is way price it.

The present provide chain points spotlight the worth of producing near residence within the UK. The scarcity additionally brings to mild the necessity for the trade to proceed to hunt sustainable options.

The problem is not solely about defending our planet’s future from plastic waste however has filtered right down to the meals our canine eat and a scarcity of availability. It’s time for retailers to steer customers in the direction of extra sustainable selections.