Pet treat packaging often fails because brands overlook food safety, fiber strength, and moisture control.

Packaging fail on the shelf not because of bad design, but because the oil from a simple chicken strip soaked through the bottom in 48 hours, or the box crushed under a pallet due to weak grain direction.

Pet snack brands face similar issues each year. Continue reading below for more reliable packaging choices.

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Why does choosing the right packaging material matter for pet treats?

Pet treats contain oil, moisture, and natural ingredients. Wrong materials cause grease stains, warping, microbial risks, and customer complaints.

In the factory, we don't just ask “is it safe?”; we check the Kit Value oil resistance testing method¹ to assess how well the paper handles oily food contact.
If you put a high-fat duck chew in standard 300gsm paper, you will see a grease halo within a week. You need a physical barrier, not just strong paper.

OIL effect on Coated vs Uncoated Paper

To understand more about structural choices, see our
custom pet packaging boxes — built specifically for oily and moisture-sensitive pet treats.

I once worked with a Canadian pet snack brand who used standard white carton for chicken jerky treats. Boxes warped after two weeks because the product released natural oil. We switched to PE-coated kraft with inner pouches. Their packaging held clean, dry, and stable for three months.

How oil affects paper stability

Pet treats with high oil content transfer grease directly into paper fibers.
Without proper coating, surfaces will stain and soften.

How moisture affects microbial risk

Moisture inside a closed box can cause mold.
Paper without barrier coating absorbs moisture and accelerates spoilage.

Failure Table

Treat Type	Typical Issue	Wrong Material Cause
Chicken jerky	Oil staining	Non-coated carton
Soft chews	Warping	Weak fiber & moisture
Fish snacks	Odor leakage	No barrier layer
Mixed treats	Collapse	Low GSM paper

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Is kraft paper reliable for natural and oily pet treats?

Kraft is strong, natural-looking, and oil-resistant when paired with coatings.

Unlike recycled greyboard that cracks at a 90° fold, virgin kraft fiber maintains structural tension — aligning with FSC-certified virgin fiber standards².
That’s why for a 500g bag of heavy dog bones, 350gsm brown kraft acts like a suspension system.

Pet brands wanting a deeper material comparison can also review our
folding carton and paperboard packaging options.

Kraft, White and PE-Coated Paper Comparison

One Singapore brand used uncoated kraft for salmon treats, and the box began to show visible grease staining within 10 days. After switching to PE-coated kraft, staining stopped completely.

This illustrates that kraft can perform very well with oily foods, but typically only when supported by a functional grease-resistant coating ³—an approach also emphasized in industry guides on grease-resistant paperboard for food packaging.

Recommended kraft specifications

Kraft Type	GSM	Best Use
Brown kraft	300–350 gsm	Strong retail boxes
White kraft	250–300 gsm	Premium eco look
PE-coated kraft	300 gsm	Oily treats

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When should brands choose coated folding cartons?

Coated cartons provide smoother printing, better appearance, and improved grease resistance.

C1S and SBS cartons deliver consistent print quality and medium grease protection, following FDA food-contact compliant paperboard guidelines⁴.

To compare structural choices, see our
custom rigid boxes and premium-grade packaging structures.

A Japanese brand producing dry duck chips used 300gsm SBS with food-safe ink.
Their packaging kept shape even in high humidity.

PRINT & APPEARANCE QUALITY

For additional industry insight, Refine Packaging’s article on
SBS and C1S carton advantages for premium printing⁵
helps brands understand print consistency.

Recommended coated carton choices

Carton	GSM	Purpose
SBS	300–350 gsm	Premium look
C1S	250–350 gsm	Cost-effective
Clay-coated	300 gsm	Grease resistance

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Should pet treat brands use corrugated boxes for e-commerce?

E-COMMERCE MATERIAL

E-commerce introduces compression, vibration, and long transport cycles.

Corrugated boxes excel in logistics-heavy scenarios because of
ECT & burst strength testing standards⁶.

A U.S. pet treat brand shipping 12-bag refill sets saw collapse in cold-weather transit using only folding cartons.
Switching to reinforced E-flute corrugated fixed the problem.

For brands evaluating mailers vs shipping boxes, PackMojo’s comparison on
corrugated mailers for subscription and e-commerce brands⁷
offers clear decision points.

You can also explore our
custom corrugated packaging solutions
for heavy or multi-pack shipments.

Flute options

Flute	Strength	Best For
F-flute	Light	Small treats
E-flute	Medium	Retail mailers
B-flute	Strong	Bulk boxes

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Are inner pouches necessary?

INNER POUCH TYPES

Pet treats often require a second protective layer to manage oil, odor, or moisture.

Even the best PE-coated carton will eventually permeate smell or oil over long shelf life, which is why many brands follow FDA-approved food-grade pouch materials⁸.

To understand how inks affect flavor transfer, see our
custom print labels with low-migration ink options.

Inner liner options

Liner	Benefit	Best For
PE pouch	Oil barrier	Oily treats
Aluminum pouch	Odor lock	Fish treats
Paper liner	Light barrier	Dry treats

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FAQ

Can I use 100% recycled paper for direct food contact?

No. Recycled pulp contains ink, adhesives, and mineral oils.
Studies on
mineral oil (MOSH/MOAH) contamination risk⁹
confirm it is unsafe for direct food contact.

If I use PE-coated paper, can I skip the pouch?

Not for long shelf life.
Coatings don’t fully block oxygen or oil migration at folded corners.
Review
oily food shelf-life recommendations¹⁰
for better planning.

Will the box make treats taste like cardboard?

Low-quality inks or uncured coatings cause this.
Industry guidelines for
low-migration inks used in food packaging¹¹
explain how to avoid flavor transfer.

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Conclusion

Pet treat packaging must balance oil content, moisture, shipping risks, and food-safe materials. By choosing the right fibers, coatings, liners, and structures—and using certified, tested materials—brands can protect product quality and avoid costly failures.

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Footnotes