Recyclable Stand-up Pouches with Clear Window for a US Pet Treat Brand
Meeting a sustainability mandate without sacrificing shelf life or product visibility.
A US pet treat brand had committed publicly to a recyclable packaging target, but their existing PET/AL/PE pouch could not be recycled in any existing stream. We developed a mono-material MDO-PE stand-up pouch with a clear window and slider zipper that matched the barrier performance of their old structure.
The Challenge
What the brand was up against
Before switching, the client faced several technical and commercial issues that the previous supplier could not solve.
- Public commitment to recyclable packaging, but existing PET/AL/PE pouch was not recyclable.
- Consumers needed to see the treats — a fully opaque pouch hurt shelf conversion.
- Dry treats required a 9-month shelf-life guarantee under real retail conditions.
- Slider zipper was non-negotiable for the brand's resealability promise.
Our Solution
What we designed and delivered
Every step was handled in-house — design, engraving, printing, lamination and bag making.
- Developed an MDO-PE/PE mono-material structure — recyclable in existing PE streams.
- Integrated a clear PE window so the product stayed visible while keeping the rest of the pouch printed.
- Barrier testing confirmed the mono-material structure met the 9-month shelf-life requirement.
- Slider zipper applied in-line, avoiding a second pass and additional cost.
Technical Specifications
Structure & production details
| Format | Stand-up pouch with clear window |
|---|---|
| Structure | MDO-PE/PE, mono-material, recyclable |
| Closure | Slider zipper + tear notch |
| Sizes | 300 g / 500 g / 900 g |
| Printing | 8-colour rotogravure, matte exterior |
| Volume | 3 SKUs, 250,000 pcs first order |
The Results
What changed after the switch
100%
Recyclable in PE stream
9 mo
Shelf life verified
3 SKUs
Range covered
0
Shelf-life loss vs old pack
The MDO-PE recyclable pouches met both our sustainability target and our 9-month shelf-life requirement. The team guided us through barrier testing and supplied a trial roll for our VFFS line before full production.
Have a Similar Challenge?
Tell us what you are packing, what shelf life you need and how your line fills. We'll propose a structure and send samples.