Truly Green or Greenwashed: One way pet owners can discern which pet brands are sustainable

"Green", "neutral," and "small carbon footprint" are no longer simply cool catch phrases to have on product packaging. These days, more and more consumers demand these attributes from the brands and products they purchase. However, consumers often find it hard to tell if their purchasing decisions are truly beneficial for the environment, as these very same terms can be vague and misleading. Fortunately, many brands and manufacturers in the pet market are responding to a consumer cry for transparency on these issues and taking steps to reduce the carbon footprints of their products, from ingredient sourcing right down to the packaging.

One organization that is key to helping pet brands toward their sustainability goals is the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC). It is a nonprofit that helps brands work with other responsible partners along the value chain and gives consumers the assurance that their hard-earned money is supporting sustainable and fair practices.

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Tempo Flexible Packaging is among the companies that have earned accreditation from PSC, having done so in late 2023.

"Getting the accreditation from PSC helps solidify what it means to take steps to create a better future … and how genuine we are about our vision to be the preferred partner for sustainable flexible packaging in North America," said Optimist & CEO Leonardo Giglio.

To acquire the accreditation, Tempo completed an in-depth review of its business operations and passed a third-party verification audit, the company reported. To keep the accreditation moving forward, it is required to demonstrate year-over-year improvements on its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments and continue doing its part to create a better world for future generations of people and their pets.

Tempo's vision is to be the preferred partner of sustainable and socially responsible flexible packaging solutions in North America. As part of this vision, it is important to the company that it not only produces packaging designed for a circular economy, but that it ensures that its business and manufacturing practices contribute toward a better future.

While the PSC accreditation is a formal recognition of the company's efforts, Tempo has been a pioneer in sustainable packaging design since 2015. That year, it received a PAC Global Sustainable Design Award for its first HarmonyPack—a recyclable pouch designed for a circular economy.

"We knew we had to create a new path for Tempo and for flexible plastics because it was the right thing to do," said COO Lee-Anne Giglio. "We could not only add value to our clients and the end consumer, but also contribute to a better system and a better product for future generations."

Today, the company's research and development team has developed HarmonyPack solutions for various categories, including all aspects of the pet industry.

In addition to pursuing the PSC accreditation, the company has strategically expanded its production capabilities and manufacturing facilities over the last year. Tempo is already a vertically integrated, full-service supplier and the expanded space will house Tempo's customer service, pre-press, sales, marketing, and sustainability teams. This frees up valuable room for additional production space and enables new flexible packaging options such as extra-large, pinch-bottom pouches that can hold up to 30 pounds of product.

Tempo is very fortunate to have built 54 years of exceptional partnerships within the pet industry and wants to offer brands support, knowledge, and, most importantly, transparency in the product life cycle and supply chain. The Pet Sustainability Coalition Accreditation not only gave the company that confidence and a standard to grow from—it also gave Tempo, and its industry partners, a powerful way to demonstrate that there is action behind the company's words.

Source: Pet Product News