PET Food Processing - December 2020 - 58

PACKAGING

82%

Company has created a line of Buddy Budder sold in a
17-oz jar, which can be enjoyed right out of the package
or used as a topping on other treats.

of consumers
Looking good
care about the While form and shape distinguish a package, both new
sustainability and traditional kinds of packages need visual appeal to
aspects of pop on the shelf or screen.
" Consumers respond best to visual presentation,
packaging. which is why we are seeing such high-end graphics on
Flexible Packaging Association

Many brands are
going upscale in
their packaging such
as this box with a
handle, giving the
feel of a human
bakery product.
WellPet

display packages around the world, from the United
States to Germany and Russia, " Fox shared.
Just as technologies are improving the versatility and
efficiency of packaging machines that allow for many different kinds of formats, advances in graphics are spurring
creative package designs in the pet food sector. Better digital and HD capabilities are resulting in enticing photos,
graphics and colors on an array of materials that can be
produced cheaper than other printing methods.
" With digital now, when you look at the package, it
has the same visual quality as something made with a
flex or roto printer, even using the same materials, "
Schaich said. " You can also move to conventional printing without any change in structure or appearance. "
In the era of ever-savvy pet parents, having clear and
ample information is a common priority in package design. Information that's important to the consumer -
whether it's nutritional content or information about
specific ingredients in those kinds of products - needs
to be clearly conveyed.
Visual appeal extends to how products are merchandised. To that end, Fox said that SOMIC is focusing
many of its innovations in
making pet food packaging
more retail ready.
" The primary focus in this

category, from an end-of-line packaging perspective, is
the premium shelf presence: vis-à-vis upscale display
trays for retail presentation, " he explained.
According to Fox, SOMIC's tray and cover solutions
allow for a premium display that's easier than rip-andtear options and can be used for products lying flat or
standing upright.
" Our machines have the capability of packing one or
the other - or both - of these orientations on the same
machine, " he said.

Greener pastures
As a new year approaches, the ongoing drive for more
sustainable packaging is set to continue in the consumer marketplace. Greater sustainability, to different and
varying degrees, is the goal of many innovations in pet
food and treat packaging.
" We need to pay attention to how we package goods
and the waste involved, " Miranda said. " We only have one
earth and we need to be better stewards. I am seeing more
reusable packaging and paper bags being introduced as
we move towards reducing our carbon footprint. "
Consumer research bears this trend. According to a
2019 survey conducted by Mondi, 75% of consumers say
they " feel more favorably " toward a brand that changes
its packaging to be more sustainable. Another study
commissioned by the Flexible Packaging Association
showed that 82% of consumers care about the sustainability aspects of packaging.
Kuecker agreed that sustainable packaging is a hotbed
of innovation.
" In the early days of premiumization growth, the
changes were largely in packaging format and appearance, " he said, citing growth in formats like flat-bottom
plastic bags and the use of matte finished printing. " This
has further evolved recently to include sustainable packaging materials. "

of consumers say they
" feel more favorably "
toward a brand that changes its
packaging to be more sustainable.
Mondi Consumer Flexibles

One of Mondi's innovations in sustainable packaging
is BarrierPack Recyclable, a plastic laminate for FFS roll
stock and pre-made pouches that is fully recyclable in
areas where flexible packaging is accepted and qualifies
for store drop-off labeling.
At Printpack, Schaich likewise reported progress in
sustainable packaging for pet food products. The company recently launched a Preserve line of recyclable pet

58

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PET Food Processing - December 2020

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