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The Natural Dog Company Launches Recycled Packaging Program

Glenn Polyn//February 28, 2021//

The Natural Dog Company Launches Recycled Packaging Program

Glenn Polyn //February 28, 2021//

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Press release: The Natural Dog Company

The Natural Dog Company (NDC) has announced the roll-out of an industry standard-setting program: in the coming months, it will begin distributing its retail and
wholesale treats and chews in 100 percent recyclable food-grade plastic adorned with recyclable tags.

NDC is among the first companies in the pet industry to address the unsustainable use of multi-laminate non-recyclable plastic packaging and labeling. Pet Sustainability Coalition estimates that more than 300 million pounds of non-recyclable plastic packaging is generated annually by the pet industry in the U.S. alone.

“I know the pet industry is primed and ready to adopt a new level of sustainability,” said Dan Goodnow, CEO and founder of NDC. “We’re excited to be doing our part to help propel the industry forward.”

The company’s new recyclable packaging and labels are made from #4 Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic, the same grade used in grocery bags. While these items aren’t yet readily accepted in household curbside recycling, many local retail stores collect these plastics in designated drop-offs bins. Consumers can search nationally for drop-off locations through the How2Recycle website. The Natural Dog Company will include instructions for recycling bags and labels on its packaging.

Goodnow believes pet owners are wired to care for things beyond themselves.

“Whether it’s animals or the environment those animals live in, it’s in our nature to want the world to thrive,” he said.

The Natural Dog Company’s new recyclable packaging and label program advances the company’s response to its impact on global plastic waste. NDC committed to achieving plastic neutrality in early 2020 by partnering with rePurpose Global , a nonprofit dedicated to solving the global plastic waste crisis.

A percentage of every NDC product purchased funds the collection, processing, and reuse of low-value plastics that are otherwise landfilled, burned, or flushed into the ocean each year. Goodnow estimates that NDC is set to help recycle more than 9,000 kilograms of plastic each year.

Goodnow founded NDC in 2009 with a commitment to sustainability across the company’s supply chain. From purchasing 100 percent wind-powered energy at the company’s first warehouse and sourcing free-range, grass-fed chews and zero deforestation beef, to offsetting its carbon footprint through a UPS emissions reduction program, environmental stewardship has always been a priority.

Goodnow credits the PSC for inspiring, guiding, and supporting NDC in achieving these enchmarks. In 2004, Goodnow’s interest in the complementary synergies of business and the environment led to an internship with Natural Capitalism Solutions, the parent organization of today’s PSC.

“Our business of distributing dog chews touches many industries, from cattle grazing, to logistics, to packaging,” Goodnow said. “We are committed to working in all of these areas to improve the lives of the people and pets we work with, as well as the environment we inhabit and rely upon.”