Introduction
Pet nutrition is a rapidly growing sector, reflecting a global increase in interest for animal health and well-being. According to recent market studies, the global pet food market value surpassed $90 billion in 2020, with a forecasted Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8% through 2025. The rising interest of pet owners in special and healthy diets for their animals, such as grain-free, single-protein, organic, and even vegan diets, has greatly contributed to this trend. A 2020 survey by Packaged Facts, a research firm specializing in consumer and market analysis, found that over 36% of dog and cat owners in the United States prefer grain-free foods for their pets, while 14% opt for organic products. These statistics highlight not only the importance of caring for pet nutrition but also the growing interest in tailored and special diets that require specific packaging to maintain freshness and quality.
Optimal freshness preservation
Freshness is crucial for maintaining essential nutritional properties, especially in special diets. Pet food must remain fresh for as long as possible to ensure that pets receive all the nutrients they need. Only well-designed and regulated packaging that complies with food packaging laws can optimally preserve pet food for extended periods.
Polypropylene (PP) pouches offer an excellent solution, as they, like all Packstyle packaging, are suitable for food preservation and designed to extend shelf life while maintaining nutritional properties.
PP material ensures optimal preservation for over 6 months at room temperature or lower and can also withstand high temperatures, being heatable up to 70°C for a maximum of 2 hours or up to 100°C for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Protection against moisture and oxygen
Moisture and oxygen are two of the main enemies of pet food quality. Exposure to moisture can cause mold formation and loss of crunchiness, while oxygen can lead to fat oxidation, altering the taste and reducing nutritional value.
Packstyle’s PP pouches offer excellent barrier properties against moisture and oxygen, ensuring that the food stays fresh and safe for consumption.
Packstyle's PP pouches are available in both metallized and transparent versions, consisting of three layers: the first layer of BOPP polypropylene ensures excellent color rendering and enhances the functional barrier against gases and moisture, ensuring pouch strength and durability. The barrier function is intensified with the subsequent layers: the PP polypropylene layer provides gas, mineral oil barriers, and aroma preservation, while the CAST polypropylene layer serves as both a moisture barrier and sealing layer.
Aluminum is also an excellent material for preserving various pet foods. This material naturally provides a complete functional barrier, prolonging the shelf life of its contents by preventing light, air, moisture, and contaminants from altering the product. With no need for additional layers, aluminum packaging remains lightweight while being highly durable.
Waste reduction
Food waste is a significant issue, not only economically but also environmentally. Pet food can lose freshness quickly, leading to disposal even before its expiration date if not stored properly.
Safe, food-contact-compliant, and carefully designed packaging can extend the shelf life of food. Additionally, with Packstyle, it is possible to add features that help prolong food freshness. The resealable zipper, which can be added during pouch design, offers a significant advantage in terms of preservation, allowing pet owners to use only the needed amount while keeping the rest in optimal condition, thus reducing waste.
Environmental sustainability
Today, ecological awareness is a concern for many. Consumers are increasingly mindful of the environmental impact of the products they purchase and pay attention to symbols that indicate the sustainability of both the product and its packaging.
Packstyle offers more sustainable options than traditional materials. The focus on material recyclability is a key aspect of Packstyle's efforts, enabling the company to offer customers, who are increasingly eco-conscious, more responsible solutions. This includes the recyclable metallized film and recyclable transparent film: both are made from mono material PP, certified as recyclable with the “Made for Recycling” seal by Interseroh+, a leading German certification body.
Customization and information
Packaging customization has been an essential factor in Packstyle’s success with established clients, as well as small businesses and start-ups.
Creating packaging with Packstyle means developing packaging that is not only functional for the product, providing protection and preservation depending on the contents, but also highly personalized, allowing clients to print their own designs on the pouches, as well as the necessary information for customers and legal requirements.
For Packstyle, customization does not significantly affect costs, as the pouches are printed digitally, even for orders as small as 50 pieces. Customization allows clients to choose the most suitable design for the product and order only the quantity needed. For companies with multiple product lines, Packstyle offers a multigraphic service, enabling the production of pouches with different designs as if it were a single order. Creating custom pouches for pet food allows for the inclusion of detailed information on specific ingredients, the benefits of the special diet, and other useful details for consumers. Adding a QR code to the packaging further enhances the ability to inform customers and share brand stories, strengthening trust with buyers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the well-being of pets is a rapidly growing global phenomenon, and packaging plays a crucial role, especially in pet nutrition for special diets.
Choosing the right packaging is not difficult: simply rely on those who produce packaging that complies with food preservation regulations and develop solutions to keep the product intact for as long as possible, preserving its crunchiness, freshness, and all the nutrients selected for your pet. Packstyle's monomaterial PP packaging is the perfect solution not only for maintaining freshness and protecting against moisture and oxygen but also for reducing waste and promoting environmental sustainability. To learn more about Packstyle's packaging solutions and how they can improve your pet's diet, visit our website.