A flexible pouch that says "recyclable" must survive real-world sorting. How labeling programs and store drop-off streams shaped honest claims in 2024.
In 2024, the most credible recyclability claim for flexible pet food packaging in North America remained the How2Recycle Store Drop-Off label. The logic is practical: polyethylene films — including mono-PE pouch structures — are not collected curbside in most municipalities, but roughly 18,000 US and Canadian retail locations collect them in store drop-off bins alongside grocery bags.
Brands learned three lessons during the year. First, label accuracy matters: the FTC's Green Guides require claims a reasonable consumer can substantiate, and several high-profile complaints targeted film packaging labeled recyclable without qualification. Second, design for the actual stream — labels, adhesives, and inks must be compatible with PE film recycling.
Third, pair the label with a narrative: shoppers convert a small orange Store Drop-Off logo into brand trust when the back of the pouch explains it in one honest sentence.
Editorial photographs in this news section are real photographs sourced from Wikimedia Commons and used under the licences stated below. Product mock-ups and factory photography are the property of KindPack Pouch.
