Recent media frenzy surrounding the harmful effects of plastic waste has sent many pet food consumers, brands and retailers into a spiral of confusion, according to a leading packaging company.

Law Print Pack is a company specialising in recyclable packaging and its marketing manager Kate McCauley says: "We've had a lot of interest from our pet sector customers and contacts on how to make their packaging more sustainable moving forwards."

Kate has put together the following guidelines that hopefully clear up some of the main reasons why plastics are used in packaging and what pet food brands can be focussing on moving forwards before real legislation is put in place.

From consumers, suppliers, retailers, governments and even just as mere humans, we’ve all felt compelled to tackle the global plastics problem.

The statistics released by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 is nothing short of terrifying.

And it’s not only the visible pollution but the hidden problems of microplastics and their impact on marine life and the wider food chain.

Of all the global plastics manufactured, over half are used solely for packaging, many only once and failing to be disposed of responsibly. Recent studies have shown that 90% of all the plastic polluting the oceans comes from just ten rivers located in Asia and Africa, so it’s only right to take a step back and ask the question how far can we go to tackle the global plastics problem?

Managing the huge volumes of waste from our ‘throw-away culture’ is arguably nigh on impossible. We are simply manufacturing more plastic than we are able to dispose of. Even with the robust recycling systems in place here in the UK, it’s still not enough. According to Recoup UK only 21% of plastic films and 76% of plastic pots, tubs and trays are currently recycled by local authorities.

Compare these figures to the most polluting countries with no infrastructure, government funding or obligation to control plastic waste and you hit a real problem. In their Plastic Planet feature, National Geographic quoted Ramani Narayan from Michigan State University who suggests that even if the whole of Europe and North America managed to recycle all of their waste it would hardly make a dent in the total plastics found in the oceans.

A scary statement, but one that many people need to hear before we commit millions to new collection systems and waste management centres. As well as brands investing in new biodegradable materials that in fact may do far more harm than existing plastic packaging materials on the market.

The recent media frenzy has sent many pet food consumers, brands and retailers into a spiral of confusion, with many of our own customers asking why are still using plastic in packaging. For perishable foods, like those used in the pet food sector, plastic provides essential barrier protections to prolong shelf life, protect the product in transit and prevent unnecessary food waste, which in itself is another catastrophic environmental issue.

Using lightweight flexible films can improve environmental impact through reduced material usage and production emissions, so with more product and less packaging, landfill waste is significantly cut. These efficiencies also trickle down to distribution, with less space needed for transportation resulting in fewer CO2 emissions.

The simple fact of the matter is we can’t simply villainise all plastics in packaging. It’s a naïve and dangerous belief that abolishing all plastic can be an immediate solution to such a complicated and engrained issue. 

What we can do is ensure that we always design with the end in mind.

• We can work to optimise all packaging.
• We can use a more lightweight material with reduced environmental impact.
• We can think about the potential for recycling at end of life.
• We can look at whether we really need to use plastic for single use, throw away formats.
• We can develop materials that will be accepted in current waste streams, rather than contaminating them.
• We can put collective pressure as an industry on the government to invest in improved infrastructure here, but also further afield in developing countries that need it most.

As the statistics suggest that until the worst offending countries waste systems are addressed, Western policies may be futile to tackle the deep-rooted global problem. 

Because really, everything can and should be recycled, even if it is burnt for energy, it still has the potential for positive use at end of life.

This month Law Print launched their sustainability series, outlining their commitment to sustainability as well as providing a free eBook on the Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Packaging.

To learn more, visit: http://lawprintpack.co.uk/ultimate-guide-to-sustainable-packaging/