Sustainable pet food packaging, what is what?

There are several things that affect the sustainability of your pet. Food is one of them. Yarrah is committed to sustainability and safeguarding the natural environment. Sustainable packaging is an important part of that. We will tell you all about it.

Packaging material type

A large proportion of your pet’s climate impact is related to its food. This involves the ingredients such as meat, fish or vegetables. But the packaging type is relevant as well. At the same time, the type of packaging material also determines the quality and shelf life of the product. Yarrah continuously seeks to improve and develop its products. The packaging has been adjusted and improved on a regular basis. Finding a truly sustainable alternative to plastic that will keep dog and cat food sufficiently fresh, isn’t always possible just yet, but we did manage to improve the sustainability of our packaging considerably by implementing several changes.

Adjustments to the packaging

One packaging innovation that Yarrah implemented is the addition of a zipper to the 2.4 kg bags of kibble for cats and the 2 kg bags of kibble for dogs. The zipper allows you to seal the bag, keeping the food fresh for longer which reduces the amount of food waste. In addition, we reduced our packaging material consumption by 20% several years ago by adjusting our bags. Stores receive Yarrah’s products in cardboard boxes as much as possible.

Recycling packaging

The type of packaging depends on the type of food it contains. Kibble comes in plastic while wet food comes in tin and aluminium. As of this year, the 700 g and 800 g cat food bags and the Mini Snacks for dogs and cats come in 100% recyclable packaging. In addition, the packaging of our kibble is largely made of (plant-based) reusable material. We will be switching the larger bags of kibble to 100% recyclable material in the near future.

Separation rules for plastic, tin and aluminium waste may differ depending on your municipality. The cans from canned food, aluminium tubs from wet food and bags from kibble can usually be disposed of together with your plastic waste (Dutch: “PMD”). Make sure to find out exactly what rules apply in your municipality and separate your waste to contribute to packaging recycling and sustainability.

Handling food sustainably

Handling food correctly, will help avoid waste. Some tips at a glance:

• Kibble has a longer shelf life than wet food and a lower environmental footprint. That is why we recommend kibble over wet food.
• In the case of wet food, keep opened packets and tins in the fridge. Cover them to increase their shelf life. If properly packaged, Yarrah wet food is also suitable for freezing.
• Never overfeed. Although you don’t want to waste any food, overfeeding may cause your dog or cat to develop obesity. Use our food calculator to find out how much food your pet needs.

Sustainable pet

A pet comes with an environmental footprint. But as its owner, you can minimise this effect by keeping several things in mind, such as the tips for food above, as well as buying second-hand accessories or adopting a rescue pet. For more tips on improving your pet’s sustainability, check out the blog: “How sustainable is my pet and how can I contribute?”