Tons of brands say their packaging is recyclable. But what does that really mean—and how does it actually happen? In this episode of Barking Mad, we unpack the truth behind pet food packaging: misleading claims, infrastructure gaps, consumer confusion, and the realities that make flexible plastics so difficult to recycle. With expert voices from packaging engineers, sustainability leaders, and recycling innovators, we explore where the system is currently breaking down—and the creative solutions shaping a more circular future. From mono-material films to diaper-inspired designs and return-to-retail programs, this conversation is anything but trash.

Helpful Links

🚮 How much recycled content actually gets recycled? https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/chasing-arrows-what-does-mean-recycling-bsm-partners-tm80c/?trackingId=1suOpuDas%2BvZdnnFKVNzEQ%3D%3D

⛴️ Learn more about the US’s exportation of recycling waste: https://repurpose.global/blog/post/us-waste-exporting-explained

🌠 Read more about wishcycling: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/11/what-is-wishcycling-circular-economy/

🌱 Check out this study weighing the tradeoffs of bio-based packaging: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00407-8

♻️ State-by-state comparison – how well does your state do recycling?: https://www.ball.com/sustainability/real-circularity/50-states-of-recycling

☕ Keurig’s expensive case of greenwashing: https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2022/01/keurig-canada-to-pay-3-million-penalty-to-settle-competition-bureaus-concerns-over-coffee-pod-recycling-claims.html

⚖️ How state legislation can influence federal laws: https://bsmpartners.net/insights/capitol-copycat-how-small-state-laws-can-go-full-on-federal/

✒️ Learn more about Extended Producer Responsibility: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2024/04/extended-producer-responsibility_4274765d/67587b0b-en.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

🎙️ Learn more about today’s guests:

• Tyler Packaging: https://www.tylerpackaging.co.uk/
• Veloflex by Thanh Phu: https://www.thanhphupack.com/veloflex.html
• Film Source Packaging: https://www.filmsourcepackaging.com/
• rePurpose Global: https://repurpose.global/
• Petsmart & TerraCycle: https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/petsmart
• Pet Sustainability Coalition: https://petsustainability.org/sustainable-packaging/

Show Notes

00:00 – Inside the Episode

02:31 – All The Things We Ask of Packaging

04:39 – Looking at the Full Life Cycle

07:51 – Why Are Multi-Layer Plastics So Hard to Recycle?

09:24 – Wishcycling

11:55 – How the Pet Industry is Innovating

12:34 – The Impact Hierarchy

14:53 – Leveraging Non-Virgin Plastics (And The Challenges)

18:44 – Breaking Down the Difference Between Biodegradable and Compostable

19:55 – Mixed Feelings About Bio-Based Materials

22:27 – Greenwashing: Buyer, Beware!

24:51 – From Diapers to Pet Food Packaging

28:11 – Bridge Solutions: rePurpose Global and PetSmart/TerraCycle

37:37 – Return-to-Retail Programs Across the Atlantic

38:43 – Investing in Curbside Collection

42:35 – State-by-State Recycling Rates

46:42 – The Hidden Impact of Secondary Packaging

49:49 – Certifications and Consumer Advocacy

52:46 – Understanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

54:58 – Inspiring the Future of Sustainable Packaging

57:17 – Today’s Key Takeaways