BOULDER, COLO. — In an effort to assist pet industry stakeholders with monitoring new and changing packaging regulations, the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) launched on May 29 its new Packaging Legislation Tracker. The tool offers an overview of the latest regulations to help processors forecast potential cost increases that could affect their operations.
The tool provides detailed information about the regulations, which are broken down by region, how the regulations could affect operations, and where to go to find additional information. If used as intended, the Tracker would allow companies to plan ahead and make informed decisions about their operations to adapt to the new laws and regulations.
“This tool provides a comprehensive list of packaging-related regulations for the pet industry and can help companies piece together how it could apply to pet businesses and the type of packaging they work with,” said Ali Boden, PSC’s senior packaging program manager. “This streamlined approach means you spend less time researching and more time implementing strategic changes that help you reduce costs, stay ahead of compliance needs, and identify opportunities for sustainable growth.”
Currently the Tracker includes a comprehensive overview of over 100 packaging-related regulations in four regions: the United States, with state-by-state data, Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union. PSC plans to expand the Tracker later this year to include regulations in non-EU countries, Australia and New Zealand.
The Tracker, which is sortable and filterable to easily find specific and relevant information, includes the following information:
- name of the regulation
- purpose and type of regulation
- date of enactment and enforcement
- whether there are on-pack labeling implications
- type of business or sector most impacted
- material class affected
- where to find additional information
“Investing in sustainable packaging is a dual win: it helps you comply with increasingly strict regulations and positions your brand as a strategic leader in the sustainability movement,” Boden added. “This isn’t just about compliance; it’s about being a part of the broader solution to environmental challenges, attracting eco-conscious consumers and employees alike.”
Since regulations constantly change, PSC plans to update the Tracker biannually to keep the information provided as up to date as possible.
For more regulatory news affecting the pet food market, visit our Regulatory page.
