The Client: Ritchie Smith Feeds
Otter Co-Op, a trusted name in agriculture and pet food products, recognized the need to transition towards more sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Their goal was to reduce environmental impact while maintaining the quality and durability of their packaging.
Challenges
In collaboration with their marketing firm, the company launched a new line of chicken, horse, and animal feed/grain bags. The marketing firm designed the new artwork and specified BOPP/PP woven packaging. Simultaneously, the company upgraded its facility to fully automated bagging. While the bagging line required high-quality, consistent packaging, the client still wanted to keep packaging costs under a set threshold.
The Process
Otter Co-Op began by conducting thorough market research to understand customer concerns and identify viable sustainable packaging alternatives. The team evaluated various materials based on their durability, moisture resistance, and environmental impact. Through rigorous testing, they ensured that the new packaging would maintain the integrity of the product while significantly reducing plastic waste. After selecting PE-lined multi-wall paper bags as the best solution, they worked on a design that allowed for easy separation of materials—enabling customers to recycle the inner PE lining and compost the outer 3-ply paper bag.
Once the new packaging was finalized, Otter Co-Op focused on a smooth rollout by educating customers on how to properly dispose of the materials. They provided clear instructions on recycling and composting while actively gathering feedback to measure the impact of the transition. By continuously monitoring performance and listening to customer insights, the company ensured that the switch to sustainable packaging met both consumer expectations and environmental goals.
Solution
By sourcing from our long-standing manufacturer and leveraging their Taiwan facility to support their Northwest Pacific, American-based manufacturing, we were able to provide high-quality packaging while maintaining high print standards, short, consistent lead times, and keeping costs under the set threshold.
