Pet Food Packaging: Cartons vs. Cans

Written by Guy Blaskey, Founder.

Cartons can be lighter and easier to pack efficiently than cans, while metal cans can have established recycling streams and high recycled content. Neither format is automatically the environmental winner in every product, region and disposal system.

A useful comparison looks across the full life cycle: raw materials, manufacturing, empty-package transport, filled-package transport, food protection, household use and what actually happens after disposal.

1. Raw materials

Steel and aluminum come from nonrenewable mineral resources, but both can circulate through recycling. A carton is largely paperboard from trees, combined with polymer and sometimes aluminum barrier layers. Responsibly managed fiber can be renewable, yet forestry, pulping and the barrier materials still have impacts.

Ask for the percentage and certification of fiber, metal and plastic rather than judging the package by its outer appearance. A paper-rich package is not the same as a single-material paper box.

2. Production and food protection

Forming, coating, sterilizing and sealing all require energy. A lighter package may use less material, but the comparison depends on the energy mix, manufacturing efficiency, recycled content and barrier performance. Published percentages from one supplier or product cannot be applied to every carton and can.

Food protection is part of the environmental equation. If a package prevents spoilage and keeps the correct portion usable, avoided food waste can matter more than a small packaging difference. Check shelf-life and storage instructions before and after opening.

3. Transportation of empty packaging

Many cartons reach a filling plant as flat or compact blanks. Empty cans are already formed and can move more air. That can give cartons an efficiency advantage before filling, but the real result depends on pallet configuration, distance, vehicle loading and backhaul logistics.

Do not rely on a single truck ratio without the underlying product specification. Compare verified life-cycle data for packages of the same usable food volume.

4. Storage and transportation of filled product

Rectangular packs can use shelf and shipping space efficiently because they fit closely together. Round cans leave gaps, though modern cases and pallets are designed to minimize them. Package strength also matters: damage, leakage or product loss can erase transport gains.

For home delivery, consider total order weight, protective shipping material and whether the package shape reduces empty space in the box. Buying more than the dog can use before spoilage is not a sustainability win.

5. Package weight

A carton for the same food volume is often lighter than a steel can, which can reduce transport energy. The size of that benefit depends on distance and transport mode. It should be measured, not assumed.

Weight is only one input. Recycled content, recovery rate, food waste and local processing capacity can change the final result.

Recycling depends on where you live

U.S. programs differ by municipality and hauler. Metal cans are widely accepted in many curbside systems, while aseptic and gable-top cartons may require a participating facility. Rinse or empty packages as local instructions require, keep caps on only when requested and never place a format in curbside recycling based on a generic recycling symbol alone.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WARM documentation models greenhouse-gas and energy factors for packaging materials across source reduction, recycling, combustion and landfilling. It illustrates why disposal pathway and recovered material matter alongside manufacturing.

A five-question packaging check

1. Does the format protect the food and reduce waste?
2. How much material and recycled content does it use?
3. Is the package shipped and stored efficiently?
4. Can your local program actually sort and process it?
5. Has the brand published product-specific, third-party-reviewed life-cycle data?

Read the EPA WARM packaging materials documentation for the factors used in one U.S. waste-management model. A responsible brand should update claims when materials, suppliers or recycling access change.

Frequently asked questions

Are cartons always greener than cans?

No. Cartons can be lighter and space-efficient, but recycled content, food protection and local recovery determine the full result.

Are metal cans recyclable?

Many U.S. programs accept steel or aluminum cans, but residents should follow their local hauler's instructions.

Can pet-food cartons go in curbside recycling?

Only where the local program accepts that exact carton type. Multi-layer cartons need suitable sorting and processing.

What matters most in a package comparison?

Use product-specific life-cycle data covering materials, production, transport, food waste and end-of-life pathways.