With over 94 million U.S. households owning pets, the pet food industry generates 300 million pounds of packaging waste annually, most of which ends up in landfills. Dry food bags made of polypropylene and multi-layer materials pose significant recycling hurdles, while steel cans for wet food are more straightforward to recycle. Recent innovations and programs aim to address this environmental impact through partnerships and new materials.
The scale of pet food packaging waste underscores a pressing environmental issue. In 2024, Americans spent $67.8 billion on pet food and treats, contributing to an estimated 300 million pounds of plastic waste each year from the industry. According to the Pet Sustainability Coalition, over 99% of this packaging—primarily non-recyclable or difficult-to-process materials—diverts to landfills rather than recycling streams.
Dry pet food, often bought in larger, cost-effective bags, has transitioned from multi-wall paper to more durable polypropylene composite bags, which incorporate plastic, aluminum, and other layers to maintain freshness and block moisture. These #5 plastic bags rarely qualify for curbside recycling and differ from the polyethylene types (#2 and #4) accepted at grocery stores. In contrast, wet pet food comes in steel cans, the most recycled material in the U.S., similar to those for soup or coffee. A BPA liner protects the metal but burns off during recycling without hindering the process. Pet owners can rinse these cans and add them to curbside bins where metal recycling is available.
Several initiatives promote better waste management. The Pet Sustainability Coalition's Packaging Pledge encourages companies to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging; early signatories include Open Farm, Primal Pet Foods, Stella and Chewy’s, Canidae, Earth Animal, and Instinct. rePurpose Global partners with 20 brands to recover 2,000 tons of plastic waste—equivalent to 111 million bottles—from environments in Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, and India, supporting over 4,500 waste workers.
Brand-specific and retail programs facilitate recycling. Earthborn Holistic's ReBorn program marked its 10th anniversary in 2025, having processed over 2 million bags and diverted more than 260,000 pounds from landfills. PetSmart pilots in-store drop-offs in Arizona and New Jersey for all brands, sponsored by Tiki Cat, Hill’s, Authority, Royal Canin, Canidae, and Simply Nourish. Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash offer nationwide collection points without needing an account. For others, TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box starts at $134 and accepts any brand's flexible packaging via mail-in.
Treat pouches, typically polyethylene blends, require similar specialized handling, though Mars Petcare has introduced compostable options in some markets. Fish food containers, made of #1 plastic, may join bottle recycling if locally permitted, with caps handled separately.
Industry advancements signal progress. Wynn Petfood plans a switch to 100% paper using Koehler Paper’s NexFlex technology for wet blends, while Phoenix Bark employs compostable parchment. TC Transcontinental's BOPE films enable recyclable mono-materials, and Mars Petcare's 60% post-consumer recycled pouches for Schmackos in Australia cut 350 tons of virgin plastic. Nestlé Purina states 80% of its packaging is recyclable, and UPM Specialty Papers offers PFAS-free alternatives.
Regulatory shifts, including extended producer responsibility laws in seven states—California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—as of October 2025, will push manufacturers toward compliant designs. California's SB 54 aims for 2032 targets and $5 billion in funding over a decade, with more states like New York and Illinois advancing similar bills.
