BOULDER, COLO. — The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) announced earlier this month its latest partnership with UK Pet Food, formerly known as the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, to bring the coalition’s Packaging Pledge to pet industry brands and distributors throughout the United Kingdom.

The PSC introduced its Packaging Pledge at SUPERZOO 2022, where five North American pet food companies — Canidae, Earth Animal, Instinct, Petcurean and Primal Pet Foods — were the first to sign on. The pledge binds pet industry players to the commitment of transitioning their packaging to recyclable, refillable or compostable materials by 2025. This includes making measurable strides toward more environmentally friendly packaging. 

In return, pledged companies gain access to several resources from the PSC, including: 

  • Peer working groups, where signatories meet bi-monthly to collaborate on their initiatives and resources;
  • Business case support to help communicate the value of the pledge to stakeholders;
  • Access to the PSC’s Packaging Supplier Marketplace, in which brands can search for sustainable packaging solutions from a curated list of pre-vetted packaging suppliers;
  • Bi-annual legislative updates to stay informed about global packaging laws and regulations;
  • A signatory badge and digital assets to help brands promote their participation in the pledge;
  • And access to benchmarking and reporting tools, as well as strategy consulting and workshops provided by PSC.

UK Pet Food is the latest to join the PSC Packaging Pledge, and is urging its pet food industry members to make the commitment toward more sustainable packaging. According to the association, its membership accounts for more than 90% of pet food producers across the United Kingdom.

“We would love to see a cohort of our members added to this list of signatories,” said Nicole Paley, deputy chief executive officer and sustainability lead at UK Pet Food. “When a company commits to the PSC Packaging Pledge, they are immediately provided with a variety of tools and resources to assist them in their sustainable packaging journey.”

Interested members can contact Ali Boden, PSC’s senior packaging program manager, at packaging@petsustainability.org to learn more about how to take the Packaging Pledge.

“More than 300 million lbs of flexible plastic packaging is created in North America by the pet industry each year, with 99% of it ending up in landfills due to the commonly used multilayer, multi-material nature of pet food and treat packaging,” Boden said. “The Packaging Pledge aims to provide the resources and guidance for the pet industry to advance their packaging toward scalable, sustainable solutions and reduce landfill-bound pet packaging waste.”

Since it was established in 2022, 10 additional signatories have joined the pledge, including Austin and Kat, Baja Naturals, Boxiecat, Fera Pet Organics, H&H Group’s Solid Gold and Zesty Paws brands, MPM Products, Phillips Pet Food & Supplies, Bausch & Lomb’s Project Watson brand, Stella & Chewy’s, and ZIWI.

“Being a committed member of the Packaging Pledge has significantly transformed MPM Products’ approach to sustainability,” said Joy Stevenson, B Corp project manager at MPM Products. “Engaging in this initiative has allowed MPM to forge valuable connections with like-minded businesses globally. As part of this collaborative effort, we relish the opportunity to exchange innovative ideas, share experiences and address common challenges. The Packaging Pledge has created a platform for us to navigate the complexities of enhancing our environmental impact collectively.”

Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.