Sierra, the magazine of the Sierra Club, featured Atlantic Packaging Sustainability Director Caroline DeLoach in an article on circularity in the pet industry.
Read the full article here!
Optimized packaging, cleaner ingredients, and recycling programs are creating a more circular economy for the pet industry, a market sector worth over $150 billion.
The pet sector currently generates a massive amount of plastic waste, unsustainably sourced foods, and landfill-bound toys, but rising demand for a more sustainable economy is pushing brands toward recyclable packaging, healthier ingredients, and take-back programs for worn-out toys.
“… you don’t need much packaging around a dog toy,” says Caroline DeLoach, director of sustainability at Atlantic Packaging.
Driven by new extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws and consumer pressure, pet brands are shifting to circular packaging — cutting virgin plastic, designing for recyclability, and right-sizing shipments.
Overuse of packaging wastes emissions and money, and under application of packaging can lead to product damage and unsellable products, wasting countless resources. Ensuring packaging is optimized for each product is necessary for sustainability!
Building a circular pet economy means pushing brands to cut packaging waste, reusing or donating gear, and advocating for stronger EPR policies.