How to Choose Packaging for Dry Pet Food in the UK

Choosing the right packaging for dry pet food is about far more than picking a bag that looks good on shelf. It needs to protect the product, meet UK food safety expectations, and reflect the sustainability standards that today’s pet owners are looking for. Here’s what to consider, and how Tyler Packaging can help you get it right.

Dry pet food is sensitive to oxygen, moisture and light. Get the packaging wrong and you risk stale kibble, rancid fats, or a product that simply doesn’t perform once it’s on the shelf. The right pouch needs to:

• Provide a strong barrier against moisture and oxygen
• Withstand the weight and movement of dry kibble without splitting or tearing
• Stay stable and presentable in-store, whether stacked or free-standing
• Reflect your brand clearly, with print quality that holds up in a competitive category

Before you even think about pouch style or print finish, your packaging supplier’s certifications should be top of your checklist. Anyone can claim their packaging is food-safe or sustainable, certifications are what prove it.

Look out for:

• Food safety accreditation, such as BRCGS Packaging Materials, which confirms that hygiene, traceability and quality controls are built into the manufacturing process
• Interzero accreditations, showing that the pouches are recyclable read; third party verified
• Verified sustainability data, ideally backed by third-party Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data rather than unsubstantiated green claims

This matters because “greenwashing” is a real risk in the packaging industry, vague sustainability claims that don’t stand up to scrutiny can damage consumer trust and leave your brand exposed. Working with a supplier who can show independently verified certifications gives you, and your customers, real peace of mind.

Tyler Packaging holds these credentials as standard. Sustainability claims across the range are backed by third-party verified LCA data and Interzero certificates, so you’re never just taking a supplier’s word for it.

Once certification is sorted, the next decision is format. Tyler Packaging offers a full range of pouches suited to dry pet food, including:

• Flat bottom pouches – excellent for on-shelf stability and strong branding presentation, with the option to include recycled content
• Stand-up  pouches – one of the most widely used formats in the market, offering a bottom gusset for good shelf presentation and space-efficient stacking
• SQ4 (Quad Seal) sacks – suited to larger pack sizes where strength and durability are the priority
• FFS films – for form-fill-seal production lines running at scale

Each format can be finished with features such as resealable zippers, tear notches, easy-open options, and micro-perforations for controlled venting, all useful considerations for a product like dry pet food that needs to stay fresh once opened.

Sustainability is now a genuine purchasing factor for pet owners, not just a nice-to-have. Tyler Packaging offers two credible routes:

• Recyclable packaging – monomaterial recyclable structures, some including up to 30% recycled plastic content, designed to fit into existing recycling streams
• Compostable packaging – made from renewable materials and certified to break down under home or industrial composting conditions within a defined timeframe

Both ranges are designed to match the durability and barrier performance of traditional laminates, so choosing a more sustainable pouch doesn’t mean compromising on shelf life or product protection.

Choosing dry pet food packaging in the UK comes down to three questions: is it certified, is it the right format for your product, and does it align with where your brand, and your customers, are heading on sustainability. With over 40 years of experience supplying the pet food sector, a comprehensive pouch range, and independently verified certifications across its packaging, Tyler Packaging is well placed to help you make that decision with confidence.

Want to talk through the right pouch for your product? Get in touch with the Tyler Packaging team to discuss samples and specifications.