18 Billion Units – that’s how much cat and dog food are sold every year worldwide, much of it is packed in tins which can be replaced by plastic packaging.

Faerch Plast A/S, based in Holstebro, Denmark, has developed an attractive and practical range of packaging specially designed for pet food products. The packaging is made of AMPET®, especially developed for ambient products. The material is lightweight but stable, and is ideal for pet food packaging. The packaging does not taint the taste of the food which given a dog’s keen sense of taste and smell, is an important detail. Moreover, the packaging can be tailored to desired shape and colour, making it easy to keep step with changing market demands.

AMPET® is cheaper than the materials which are traditionally used for pet food packaging. In addition, the packaging takes up less space in storage and in transit as it is stackable – a cost reduction reflected in the bottom line and that that benefits the environment. AMPET® consists of only one type of raw material allowing it to be used repeatedly in production so that more than 99% of the raw material is used and only 1% remaining as waste. Faerch Plast is currently working to incorporate scrap PET in its production delivering reduced energy consumption and lower CO2 emissions. After use, the packaging can be incinerated and converted into new energy.

“The pet food market is ideal for us. We have an environment-friendly alternative which offers the possibility of completely new designs,” says Faerch Plast’s CEO Lars Gade Hansen. In choosing AMPET® packaging, pet food producers are able to improve product differentiation through the shape and colour of the packaging, and also enjoy greater flexibility. At the same time, the demands of pet owners are increasing. Potion servings are high on their agendas, as well as packaging which is light and easy to take on trips. “Faerch Plast’s range is adapted to market developments and can meet any pet food packaging need,” says Lars Gade Hansen.