Dow, Zermatt, and Nature’s Variety announce the launch of a new pet food packaging solution that is designed for recyclability and incorporates recycled content from advanced (also known as chemical) recycling. This innovative product, already on the shelves in Spain, France and Portugal marks a significant step forward in sustainable packaging for the pet food industry with multiple aspects of circularity in a single item.
The collaboration between Dow, Zermatt, and Nature’s Variety brings together leaders in materials science, packaging innovation, and premium pet food. Dow provides innovative solutions that support manufacturers and brands in achieving their sustainability and performance objectives. Zermatt specializes in creating high-performance sustainable packaging solutions for a diverse range of applications. Nature’s Variety, a leading European pet food brand, is committed to providing high-quality, natural pet food products for dogs and cats.
“This achievement highlights the importance of strong value chain collaboration. With our combined innovation, together we are delivering a solution that proactively meets legislative requirements and advances sustainability in the pet food packaging segment,” said Antonio Barrasus, commercial director, Zermatt SA.
Innovation that proactively enables more sustainable pet food packaging
This innovative new pouch, specifically designed for Nature’s Variety pet food products, is a result of simplifying the former multi-material structure (PET/PE) into a mono-material PE film structure aligned to anticipated design for recyclability (D4R) standards from The European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
The D4R structure also incorporates recycled content from advanced recycling using an ISCC Plus certified mass balance credit approach. This is an important step to enable the safe use of recycled plastics into food contact and other contact-sensitive applications, providing consumers with peace of mind on food safety while also reducing reliance on virgin resources and advancing a circular economy for food packaging.
Today, this Nature’s Variety pet food pouch includes 10% recycled content [mass balance approach] and can help comply with the 2030 target required by the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) for contact-sensitive packaging. The brand’s medium term goal is to reach 30% recycled content by 2030.
“By leveraging our innovative circular materials and expertise, we are supporting packaging redesign for recyclability, and the development and incorporation of advanced recycled materials into contact-sensitive applications. This is key to enabling customers and brands to meet voluntary circular plastic packaging commitments and legislative requirements,” said Marian Gmenta, marketing lead for circular & renewable solutions at Dow.
Addressing consumer preferences for circular solutions in pet food packaging
Nature’s Variety has observed that recyclable and sustainable packaging has been gaining relevance amongst consumers. This trend underscores the importance of developing packaging solutions that not only protect the product but also contribute to a circular economy.
“At Nature’s Variety, we are aware of the footprint left by our decisions. This is why we are not only committed to providing the best for our pets, but also to reducing the impact we have on the environment. To do so, we have defined a series of specific actions,” said Ilaria Bianchi, international marketing manager, Nature’s Variety. “This new packaging designed for recyclability and including recycled plastic content, thus reducing the use of virgin plastic, marks one big step in this direction and reflects our dedication to innovation.”
