A nonprofit organisation in Boulder, Colorado, Pet Sustainability Coalition, is taking steps to make petfood packaging more environmentally friendly, reports CBS News.
The organisation is on a mission to address the environmental impact caused by the vast amounts of non-recyclable plastic bags commonly used for petfood, which contribute to significant landfill waste.
Jim Lamancusa, the CEO of the Coalition, shared that the group has expanded from a small gathering of Colorado companies to an international movement with 200 members across 18 countries. The focus of their current initiative is on flexible plastic packaging, which constitutes over 300 million pounds of waste from the pet industry annually.
While there are drop-off locations for these bags at retailers like Whole Foods and King Soopers, they cannot be recycled in standard curbside bins. This means feeding an average dog results in about 39 pounds of plastic waste each year. Lamancusa emphasised that change is possible.
The coalition is dedicated to educating its members about sustainable alternatives, and some major companies are already making the switch.
“Earth Animal was a really successful packaging pledge member, and they’re very popular in the pet industry. Royal Canin went through the process. Hill’s… switched all their packaging to being recyclable,” Lamancusa told CBS.
At Only Natural Pet in Boulder, a founding member of the coalition, the store manager disclosed to CBS that they are currently rebranding and considering new packaging options.
This shift highlights the potential for a significant positive impact on the environment.