KANSAS CITY, MO. — Almost 40 years ago, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” While that sentiment is still relevant today, today’s sustainability definitions dive deeper, taking a closer look at environmental, social and economic solutions.

Industry-wide initiatives include sustainable ingredient sourcing, responsible packaging solutions, including reusable and recyclable options; water and energy use management, and social issue involvement, including diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and community collaboration.

For the past decade, the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) has been at the forefront of the sustainability mission in the pet care industry. With a goal to “envision a thriving and collaborative pet industry that creates positive impact for the communities and environments where we do business” and a mission to “advance business through profitable environmental and social practices,” PSC is guiding pet care companies through their sustainability journeys.

Anne Klein, senior sustainability business manager at the Pet Sustainability Coalition.

| Source: Pet Sustainability Coalition

Sustainability is one of the many industry issues that will be discussed at the inaugural Pet Food Processing Exchange Oct. 7 to 8 in Kansas City, hosted by Pet Food Processing magazine and parent company Sosland Publishing. During the event, subject matter experts in the areas of product formulation, animal nutrition, data analysis, packaging, food safety, automation and more will share their knowledge of the formulation, production and safety of pet food on-stage.

On Oct. 8, Anne Klein, senior sustainability business manager with PSC, will take the stage to talk about  “Sustainability in the Pet Industry.” She will shed some light on what pet food manufacturers need to know about sustainability and how packaging, formulation, emissions reductions and corporate responsibility can create a positive impact for business, the environment and communities. 

Speaking with Pet Food Processing magazine, Klein shared her insights on how taking a close look at pet food and treat packaging can be an important first step in a processor’s sustainability journey.

Pet Food Processing: How is the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) a partner to the pet food industry when it comes to the sustainability mission? 

Klein: There’s no one-size-fits-all sustainability journey, which is why PSC offers benefits and curated expertise that are specifically tuned to companies in the pet industry. Our key areas of impact include packaging design, ingredient formulation, emissions reductions and corporate responsibility, all of which can create positive impact for business, the environment and communities. We support individual companies wherever they are with sustainability, while also working as a coalition to tackle the global problems one company can’t solve on their own.

PFP: What are some of the sustainability obstacles on the packaging side of the pet food industry? 

Klein: There are two major obstacles that we frequently hear from our members. First, when it comes to pet food and treats, the industry has traditionally used multi-material flexible packaging, which is extremely difficult to recycle. Luckily, mono-material flexible PE (polyethylene) serves as a great solution and is more likely to be recycled through store drop-off collection programs. We have been working with our members and the greater pet industry to encourage the switch from multi-material packaging to mono-material through our programs like the Packaging Pledge. 

Second, finding sustainable packaging that can withstand the durability and heavyweight requirements of products like dog kibble or cat litter. The package needs to handle being tossed around in transportation without losing integrity. Luckily, we know of packaging suppliers that are ready to work with pet food manufacturers to test products for durability while finding more sustainable formats.

PFP: How do processors begin the journey toward sustainable packaging? What are some of the first steps? 

Klein: Start with a baseline. It’s extremely valuable to first understand your portfolio, the types of packaging you are currently working with. Ask questions like: What packaging materials do we use? How much of our packaging is recyclable, compostable, refillable or contains recycled content? For the packaging that isn’t currently “sustainable,” are there immediate alternatives we can switch to? Using data benchmarking and strategy tools can help processors understand how well they’re doing now, and how to prioritize between what low-hanging fruit they can tackle first versus actions that will require more time and investment. Doing this will ensure processors are keeping up with any Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation requirements too.

PFP: How can the PSC help with this journey? 

Klein: PSC considers sustainable packaging to be one of its core initiatives of focus. We are active participants and partners with organizations exclusively focused on sustainable packaging and waste management, including the US Plastics Pact, The Recycling Partnership and The Association of Plastic Recyclers. We leverage the knowledge gained from these amazing partners to develop and share tools that are specific to the pet industry. In addition to providing guidance to pet food brands through the Packaging Pledge, we provide a suite of packaging tools as well as one-on-one consulting and project support catered to the individual needs of our members.

PFP: What’s the value of doing life cycle assessments for products and how does packaging factor into those assessments? 

Klein: A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a good option for making data-driven decisions. It is a model of the environmental and social impacts of extracting raw materials, manufacturing, transporting, using and disposing of a product (“cradle to grave”). As it relates to packaging, the materials used in a product’s packaging can affect the overall product’s environmental impact and are worth reviewing.

PFP: Packaging is just one piece of the sustainability puzzle, why is it important for companies to consider all aspects of sustainability when they start on their journey? 

Klein: Packaging sometimes feels like the most important sustainability issue to consumers, because they feel responsible for disposing of it. However, studies show that 70% to 90% of a product’s impact comes from the ingredients inside the bag, not the bag itself. Focusing on ingredients, formulation and sourcing is a big piece of the puzzle. We recommend companies complete a Materiality Assessment first, which will identify which sustainability topics are most relevant to their business. 

Attendees of Pet Food Processing Exchange can learn more about sustainability in the pet food industry during Klein’s presentation during the event. Learn more and register for Pet Food Processing Exchange here.