Custom pet treat pouches. Huasu Packaging’s guide to custom pet food packaging: material safety, pouch type selection and print design
The pet economy continues to grow rapidly, and pet treat brands are investing more in upgraded packaging. Unlike main food packaging, custom pet treat packaging has to satisfy both the pet owner’s buying psychology and the product’s functional requirements – the bag must appeal to owners while using materials that are genuinely safe for pets. This guide walks pet treat brands through the three most important packaging decisions: material safety, pouch type functionality and print design.
Material safety standards for custom pet treat packaging
Pet treats come into direct contact with an animal’s mouth, and some products – such as freeze-dried or fresh meat treats – may be swallowed whole. That means material selection for custom pet treat packaging must put food-contact safety first. In EU and North American markets, pet food packaging must comply with the same food-contact material regulations that apply to human food, including EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR.
For the inner heat-seal layer, we recommend food-grade PE (polyethylene) or non-plasticized CPP (cast polypropylene), and we advise against recycled or industrial-grade films. Premium pet treat brands can also add a PVDC coating or a high-barrier EVOH layer to strengthen resistance to oil and odors.
Sustainability has also become a priority for pet owners, and custom pet treat packaging increasingly uses mono-material structures (all-PE or all-PP). These aluminum-foil-free, fully recyclable structures satisfy basic barrier needs while helping brands build an eco-friendly image.
Pouch type comparison and selection advice for custom pet treat packaging
Different forms of pet treats suit different pouch types. Here is a comparison of the four most commonly used pouch types in custom pet treat packaging:
1. Stand-up Pouch
The most versatile pouch type, suitable for pet treats from 50g to 2kg. An optional lockable zipper keeps pets from tearing the package open on their own. A transparent window lets consumers see the treat pieces directly, which helps lift purchase conversion. We recommend reserving at least 30% of the front print area for brand color blocks to strengthen shelf recognition.
2. Flat Bottom Pouch
With a flat bottom and upright sides, this pouch offers excellent shelf stability. It suits large dog treat packs over 1kg and mixed gift sets. The front and both sides of the eight-side seal pouch all work as print surfaces, making it the best format for three-sided brand storytelling – the front carries the brand logo and hero visual, the left side explains product selling points, and the right side shows the ingredient list or feeding advice.
3. Quad Seal Pouch
The quad seal structure produces a strong three-dimensional form, ideal for products that need high stacking strength. For large pet treat packs over 3kg, the quad seal pouch beats stand-up pouches on load-bearing capacity and resists compression better through e-commerce logistics.
4. Stick Pack / Sachet
Sachets suit small training reward treats such as freeze-dried chicken pieces or single teething sticks. They are easy to carry, and every opening is a fresh package, avoiding the moisture problems that come with repeatedly opening a large pack. In recent years, “daily training packs” made from bundled sachets have become an important format for new pet treat products.
Print design essentials for custom pet treat packaging: how to win over pet owners
Custom pet treat packaging print design is aimed at pet owners, not the pets themselves. The design logic should center on the psychology of “owners want to give their pets the best”:
- Real ingredient photography:high-resolution photos of the main ingredients on the front – such as whole chicken breast or salmon slices – trigger more purchase desire than abstract illustrations.
- Clear functional labels:use eye-catching color blocks to highlight claims such as “grain-free”, “single protein source” and “suitable for sensitive stomachs”, helping owners decide quickly at the shelf.
- Innovative window shapes:designing the window as a bone, paw print or small fish shape adds playfulness and reinforces the connection between the product and pets.
- Color psychology:dog treat packaging often uses warm tones (red, orange, yellow) to convey energy and appetite, while cat treat packaging leans toward cool tones (blue, purple, gray) to convey refinement and premium quality.
On the printing side, digital printing has become the first choice for custom pet treat packaging. Pet treats often have many SKUs that ramp up slowly per item; digital printing’s no-plate-making advantage and a minimum order as low as 500 pieces match the industry’s production rhythm exactly. For DTC pet brands that constantly launch new flavors and packaging, the flexibility of digital printing is especially valuable.
Functional accessory configuration: zippers, degassing and anti-counterfeiting
The choice of functional accessories for pet treat packaging directly affects the consumer experience:
Zipper:we recommend a double-track self-locking zipper, whose press-to-close design withstands pet scratching better than traditional slider zippers. For small packs such as cat treats, resealable adhesive tape closures offer a lower-cost alternative.
Questions about or need a custom packaging solution? Welcome toContact PurestPack. We offer one-stop service from material selection and structural design to printing sampling and mass production, and our professional team provides free customization advice.