Choosing the right material for your pet food packaging bag is more important than you know. It will affect how long the food will stay fresh, how easy it is to use the bag, and even whether or not your pet will eat it. Different pet foods, whether dry food, wet food, or treats, require different materials.

Dry Pet Food: Focus on Moisture and Oxygen Barriers

Dry pet food, such as kibble, needs to remain crisp and should not spoil. Oxygen and moisture are its greatest enemies. Accordingly, the most appropriate materials are those that offer a barrier to both. A common choice for dry pet food packaging bags is a plastic composite, such as a PET and PE composite. PET gives strength and an oxygen barrier, while PE provides increased flexibility and a good seal.

Some dry food bags also have a thin aluminum layer. This extra layer provides an enhanced barrier against moisture and light, which is great for foods containing vitamins that break down easily in sunlight. Look for bags with resealable zippers, which allow you to tightly seal the bag after opening, keeping the food fresher longer.

Wet Pet Food: Preventing Spoilage and Leakage

Wet pet food, like canned or little packets of gravy-coated food, are water and fat rich. That makes them more likely to spoil, so the pet food packaging bag has to be effective at excluding bacteria and oxygen. It must also be leak-proof.

Wet food bags typically feature a thick composite layer: PET for strength, AL for light and oxygen barrier, and PE as the inner material (safe and grease-resistant) for food contact. The layers prevent food spoilage and block grease from penetrating the bag. They are not canned food, these bags are lightweight and easy to open; just make sure they're sealed tightly to prevent leaks.

Dehydrated or Freeze-dried Pet Food: Moisture-proofing

Dehydrated or freeze-dried pet food is very sensitive to moisture. Even small amounts of water exposure will cause it to become soft or clump. The packaging needs to be almost completely moisture-proof.

A good option is a PET/PE composite with a moisture-barrier coating. Some pet food packaging bags also include desiccant packets inside to absorb excess moisture. The bag should have a secure seal, such as a heat-sealed top or a strong zipper, to lock in moisture after opening. Avoid thin plastic bags, which don't effectively block moisture.

Pet Treats

Treats come in many forms: crispy cookie, soft chews, or chewy meat sticks. The package should keep them fresh yet easily openable and closable because owners may grab treats on the go.

To retain the crispiness of crispy snacks, use a PET/PE composite to seal. To retain chewy or soft snacks' moisture and avoid drying out, use an aluminum layer to seal in the moisture. Use less complex materials like PP for small packs where snacks are consumed quickly, but for long-term storage use multi-layer composites. Utilize packs with tear-off strips or miniature zips for convenience.

Consider Temperature Resistance and Printability

Some pet foods need to withstand temperature fluctuations. For example, packaging for snacks stored in car trunks during the summer or freeze-dried foods stored in refrigerators needs to be resistant to cracking or melting. PET and PP are good choices, being stable at a wide range of temperatures between -40°C and 60°C without degrading. Thin LDPE is not suitable for extreme temperatures since it becomes brittle in the cold and soft in hot temperatures.

Printing suitability is also a factor. Pet food packaging bags often feature colorful graphics or feeding instructions. PET and OPP offer excellent printing quality, with vibrant, fade-resistant colors. This helps in branding and allows owners to identify the product by a glance. Just make sure that ink utilized is food-safe, especially if it is on the inside layer or may come into contact with food.

Special Considerations: Safety

Regardless of the food type, the bag's inner layer must be food-grade safe. PE is a food-safe option as it does not react with food. Avoid materials that contain harmful chemicals, especially for foods frequently consumed by pets.

The material used for pet food packaging bags is determined by the product: dry, wet, freeze-dried, or treats. Dry products require moisture and oxygen barriers, wet products require leak-proof and bacteria-resistant material, freeze-dried products require maximum moisture protection, and treats require freshness as well as convenience. Don't miss temperature resistance and printability. Always ensure that the inner layer is food grade and safe, and select sustainability when possible. Wancai is a pet food packaging bag manufacturer, and we have various specifications to meet your needs. Contact us now.