9 Best Practices for Pet Product Packaging Design in 2025

Did you know the pet care market was valued at $120.87 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $193.65 billion by 2032?

With such rapid growth, competition is fierce both in stores and online.

Given its influence on consumer trust and regulatory compliance, brands must pay close attention to best practices for pet product packaging design to stand out.

In this article, we’ll explore the 9 best practices for pet product packaging design to help pet brands succeed.

Let’s dive in!

Trends in Pet Product Packaging Design

Here are some trends currently shaping pet product packaging design:

Wellness-Oriented Packaging for Health-Conscious Pet Owners

Health and wellness trends have spurred packaging designs that emphasize natural ingredients and nutritional benefits.

Pet owners treat their animals like family, seeking human-grade quality and transparency in pet foods.

➸ Packaging Trends:

• Clearly marked claims like “Grain-Free,” “High Protein,” and “No Artificial Additives” are prominently displayed.

• Earthy colors and fresh ingredient imagery signal natural content.

• Nutrition info boxes and life-stage usage statements are now common, making it easier for pet owners to make informed decisions at a glance.

The rise of fresh and refrigerated diets further drives packaging innovation to convey freshness and purity.

In short, wellness-oriented packaging combines clean design and informative labeling to assure pet owners that the product supports their pet’s health.

Eco-Friendly Design and Sustainable Materials

Sustainability is no longer a niche concern but a core expectation.

Many pet brands now prioritize recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials.

➸ Sustainable Packaging Features:

• Use of recyclable or compostable materials to meet eco-conscious consumers’ demands.

• Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is becoming more common.

• Natural aesthetics, like unbleached kraft paper or green color schemes, accompany eco-friendly materials, reinforcing the brand's sustainability commitment.

Research shows that 58% of pet owners are willing to switch brands for more sustainable packaging.

As packaging designs evolve, brands are making a positive impact on the environment while meeting the needs of a growing eco-conscious market.

Smart Packaging and Connected Pet Products

Smart packaging, or intelligent packaging, incorporates technology to enhance the product experience.

➸ Smart Features:

• Freshness indicators: Color-changing designs or moisture-absorbing packets help ensure products are fresh.

• QR codes or NFC tags: Allow consumers to scan the package for more information, such as feeding instructions or product sourcing details.

• Interactive experiences: Augmented reality (AR) features that provide additional product insights or pet care tips.

These smart features not only improve convenience and engagement but also enhance safety, ensuring that pet owners are getting a high-quality product.

Premiumization and Luxury Appeal in Packaging

As pet owners pamper their pets with high-end products, luxury packaging becomes essential.

➸ Luxury Packaging Features:

• High-quality materials such as embossed tins, foil stamping, and rigid boxes.

• Sophisticated designs without cartoonish elements signal exclusivity and premium quality.

• Durable packaging, like resealable canisters or thick recyclable laminates, also enhances product protection.

This premium packaging appeals to discerning pet owners who are willing to pay more for top-tier products.

Luxury packaging builds brand prestige and suggests that pets deserve the same quality as human family members.

Personalized and Breed-Specific Packaging Solutions

Personalization is a growing trend, and packaging plays a key role in offering tailored experiences to pet owners.

➸ Personalization Trends:

• Packaging that includes the pet’s name or customized meal plans (e.g., “Charlie’s Special Blend”).

• Breed-specific packaging featuring images or information tailored to certain breeds (e.g., a German Shepherd silhouette on large-breed food).

• Nutritional benefits tailored to breed-specific needs (e.g., “Supports joint health for large breeds”).

These personalized designs foster a stronger emotional connection between the pet owner and the brand.

Packaging that feels made "just for their pet" creates a memorable and unique experience.

Visual Storytelling and Emotional Branding in Pet Packaging

Packaging not only provides essential information but also creates a story that resonates emotionally with consumers.

➸ Emotional Branding Techniques:

• Heartfelt imagery: A photo of a joyful dog running or a cozy cat snuggling with its owner evokes a sense of comfort, love, and vitality.

• Brand narratives: Short stories about the company’s mission or origins, such as how a rescue pet inspired the brand.

• Consistent mascots or characters: Create a friendly, recognizable face for the brand that engages consumers.

By tapping into the emotional bond pet owners have with their pets, brands can create packaging that resonates deeply, encouraging loyalty and fostering long-term customer relationships.

Understanding Safety and Regulatory Compliance in Packaging

Packaging is often subject to many of the same regulations as the pet products it contains, especially for pet food and treats.

Failing to comply with these regulations can lead to costly recalls or even put pets at risk.

In 2023 alone, the FDA recorded 16 pet food-related recalls, highlighting the importance of staying up-to-date with packaging and labeling requirements.

US vs EU Pet Product Packaging Regulations Overview

Packaging regulations vary between the U.S. and the EU. In the U.S., the FDA oversees pet food labeling, requiring details like product identity, net quantity, and a complete ingredient list.

The EU has broader ingredient categories and more extensive allergen labeling requirements.

➸ Key Differences:

• U.S. labels must provide detailed ingredient names, while EU labels use broader categories.

• Allergen disclosures differ: the U.S. recognizes 8 allergens, while the EU lists 14.

Pro Tip

Signify continuously monitors and scans for regulatory changes, automatically identifying critical updates and converting them into actionable insights.

This proactive approach ensures your compliance strategies are always up-to-date, streamlining gap analysis and conformity checks, and helping you stay ahead of evolving requirements without the risk of non-compliance.

Material Safety and Durability Testing Requirements

Pet product packaging must use food-grade materials to prevent contamination.

Packaging is subjected to migration testing, ensuring no harmful substances leach into the food.

Durability testing ensures that packaging withstands production, distribution, and handling without failure.

➸ Testing Requirements:

• Migration testing ensures food safety by confirming that no harmful chemicals transfer from packaging.

• Durability tests, such as drop and seal strength tests, ensure packaging remains intact during transit.

Factory Audits and Production Quality Control

Quality control and factory audits are essential to ensure that packaging meets standards.

Regular audits check for compliance with GMPs, ensuring food-safe materials, correct labeling, and traceability.

➸ Key Auditing Points:

• Verifying inks, materials, and print accuracy.

• Real-time inspections to detect errors or misprints.

Pro Tip

Signify automatically documents every compliance action, providing a complete and transparent audit trail that ensures traceability and supports regulatory defense.

This detailed record helps you stay prepared for audits, reducing the risk of compliance failures.

Allergen Labeling and Nutritional Transparency Requirements

Clear allergen and nutritional labeling is essential for pet food packaging. U.S. and EU regulations require allergen disclosure and nutritional transparency, ensuring consumers can make informed decisions.

➸ Labeling Requirements:

• U.S. labels must list ingredients by weight, highlighting allergens.

• EU labels also require allergen disclosure, with broader categories.

Environmental Certifications and Labeling Compliance

With sustainability rising in importance, many pet products now feature eco-certifications.

These certifications ensure that packaging meets environmental standards and help brands avoid "greenwashing."

➸ Common Certifications:

• FSC Certification: Verifies that the paper comes from responsibly managed forests.

• Compostable Labels: Confirm that packaging can be composted under specific conditions.

9 Best Practices for Pet Product Packaging Design

1. Use Bold Colors and Playful Visuals to Capture Attention

Pet product shelves and online marketplaces are packed with options, so your packaging needs to stand out immediately.

Bold colors and playful visuals help grab attention and create an emotional connection with pet owners.

➸ What to Do:

• Use vibrant colors like blue, yellow, and red to make your product noticeable.

• Incorporate playful imagery such as pet illustrations or mascots that connect with pet owners.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Avoid using clashing colors that could make the design look disorganized.

• Don’t overcrowd the packaging with too many graphics or competing visuals.

2. Highlight Product Benefits with Clear, Concise Messaging

Packaging should immediately communicate the core benefits of your product to stand out in a crowded market.

Pet owners often scan products quickly, so it's essential to highlight key benefits with clarity and impact.

➸ What to Do:

• Use bold, large fonts for primary benefits like “Grain-Free” or “High Protein.”

• Pair messaging with simple icons for easy identification, such as a shield for tartar control.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Avoid long sentences or cluttered text. Brevity is key.

• Do not overcrowd the design with too many benefits. Keep the focus clear and concise.

3. Ensure Functional Packaging Features for Everyday Convenience

Packaging should not only look good but also enhance the convenience of daily pet care.

Features like resealable bags, easy-open seals, and handles make life easier for pet owners and improve the overall product experience.

➸ What to Do:

• Incorporate resealable features, such as zip-lock bags or press-to-close strips.

• Include easy-open features like perforated strips or pull-tabs for convenience.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not neglect user-friendly features. Make packaging easy to open and reseal.

• Avoid packaging that requires extra tools or effort to open, like scissors.

4. Choose Eco-Friendly, Recyclable, or Biodegradable Materials

Sustainability is a growing priority for consumers, and eco-friendly packaging materials can help your product stand out.

Use recyclable or biodegradable materials whenever possible and highlight your sustainable choices clearly on the packaging.

➸ What to Do:

• Opt for recyclable plastics or cardboard made from recycled content.

• Highlight eco-friendly certifications, such as FSC or compostable labels, to build trust.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not make misleading eco claims. Ensure all sustainability labels are verified.

• Avoid packaging that compromises the product's quality for the sake of being eco-friendly.

5. Integrate High-Quality Images of Pets and Natural Ingredients

Images play a crucial role in the pet product market, helping to convey quality and emotional appeal.

By using high-quality, accurate images of ingredients or pets, you build trust and engage consumers visually.

➸ What to Do:

• Use realistic, high-quality images of ingredients like fresh chicken or vegetables.

• Include happy pet images to create an emotional connection with pet owners.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not use low-quality or irrelevant images that could harm your brand’s credibility.

• Avoid using generic stock images. Ensure visuals reflect the actual product.

6. Keep Packaging Consistent with Your Brand Identity

Consistency in your packaging helps build brand recognition and trust.

Consumers should instantly recognize your products, even across different sizes or product types, thanks to a cohesive design language.

➸ What to Do:

• Maintain consistent logo placement, color schemes, and fonts across all products.

• Adapt the design for different product sizes while maintaining the brand’s look.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not vary the core design elements across different products. Keep it uniform.

• Avoid making drastic changes to the design for each new product. Brand consistency is key.

7. Make Your Packaging E-Commerce Friendly and Shipping-Ready

With the rise of e-commerce, your packaging must be optimized for both digital displays and the physical shipping process.

Consider how the product will appear in small thumbnails and how it will withstand shipping challenges.

➸ What to Do:

• Optimize designs for legibility in small online thumbnails.

• Use durable packaging materials to withstand potential shipping damage.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not ignore the importance of online visibility. Ensure the package looks good even in a small digital format.

• Avoid packaging that is too fragile or doesn’t hold up well during shipping.

8. Include Interactive Elements like QR Codes or AR Experiences

Interactive elements like QR codes or augmented reality (AR) can provide additional value to your customers.

These features engage tech-savvy consumers and enhance the product experience beyond what’s printed on the packaging.

➸ What to Do:

• Add QR codes that link to detailed product info or promotions.

• Experiment with AR features that showcase 3D models or provide interactive demos.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not use interactive elements solely for marketing. Make sure they offer real value.

• Avoid overloading the packaging with too many interactive features. Keep it focused.

9. Comply with Labeling Rules for Ingredients, Allergen Info, and Claims

Regulatory compliance is a non-negotiable aspect of packaging design.

Leverage AI artwork validation tools to ensure your packaging meets all legal requirements to avoid penalties and maintain consumer trust.

➸ What to Do:

• List ingredients in descending order and include allergen warnings.

• Follow regulations for claims like “organic” or “high-protein” to ensure accuracy.

➸ What Not to Do:

• Do not overlook legal requirements. Ensure all necessary information is visible and accurate.

• Avoid making unsupported claims. Ensure every statement on the label can be substantiated.

Pro Tip

Signify’s Artwork Validation system automatically evaluates product labels, packaging, and claims against relevant regulatory standards to identify compliance gaps early.

This proactive approach reduces costly revisions and ensures consistent regulatory adherence across your product portfolio, streamlining the approval process and accelerating time-to-market.

Improving Pet Product Packaging and Labeling Compliance with Signify

Signify is an AI compliance agent that helps pet product manufacturers stay ahead of packaging and labeling regulations by streamlining the entire compliance process.

Whether you’re updating packaging for new global standards or preparing for a marketplace audit, Signify’s AI-powered tools simplify compliance management so that you can remain confident and on track.

What you’ll gain with Signify’s AI-driven compliance:

• Faster Packaging Approvals: Reduce review times by automatically ensuring your packaging meets regulatory standards before it’s printed.

• Fewer Costly Mistakes: Catch issues such as missing allergens, improper labeling, or non-compliant claims early during the design phase.

• Simplified Audit Preparedness: Keep all your compliance documentation well-organized and accessible by product and region.

• Real-Time Regulatory Alerts: Stay up-to-date with alerts specific to your product category, ensuring you never miss important changes in FDA or global requirements.

• Confidence in Every Product Launch: When a compliance issue is flagged, you receive clear, actionable steps to resolve it, helping you avoid delays or costly recalls.

Try Signify today and see how AI can help you validate your packaging and labeling, manage compliance documentation, and stay ahead of regulations, without slowing down your operations.