Accountability: Hill's Pet Nutrition Science Diet

I recently emailed Hill's Pet Nutrition headquarters to ask if they had any future plans of making the packaging for their pet products recyclable anytime in the near future. The best way to get the answers you need is to reach out and ask. It's important that we hold businesses accountable for the things we feel are important. I feel like responsible manufacturing, production, and distribution is imperative to our future. The same goes with honest business practices and concerns for their customer-base. This goes beyond the satisfaction of the product itself; it extends to the source of their resources, how the extraction of these resources effects local communities, how the disposal of wastes effects environment health for you and your future. These are extremely important ideas and we deserve to demand them. Here is my original email:

Hello,

I have been a customer with Hills for a long time, purchasing dog/cat food for my pets. I was disappointed to see that your packaging was not recyclable. I am wondering if you will have any plans of moving towards environmentally sustainable packaging in the near future?

Pet food is something that I must buy, but I strive to make as little as a negative environmental impact as possible. I expect the businesses I support to do the same and take responsibility for the full life of their production and products. I hope you will consider my concern and desire to continue to support your company in the future.

Thanks so much,

Kimberly W

Here was their response:

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Dear Ms W:

Thank you for contacting us with your question. Your interest in our Company and our fine products is greatly appreciated.

The selection of the types of plastic we use is based on functionality. The typical "Recyclable Plastic" package is made from a single type of plastic resin - Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PET, etc.. Our products and processes require several types of plastic resins combined in co-extrusions and laminations in order to provide the fat and oxygen barrier, abrasion resistance, palatability, seal ability, printing, and durability needed. There is no single resin type that can meet all the functional requirements of our products; therefore, our plastic bags are not recyclable. As a consumer products company, we are always pleased to know what consumers have to say about our products, and we thank you for your communication. We will be glad to make the suggestion for that product to the company on your behalf.

We appreciate that you took the time to contact us and share your feedback. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to call our Consumer Affairs Department toll free at 1-800-445-5777 or visit our website at HillsPet.com.

Sincerely,

Consumer Affairs
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

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