Picking the Perfect Pouch

Nobody gets into the dog treat business because they're excited about bags.

We certainly didn't. But it turns out a bag has a harder job than almost anything else we make. It has to keep air and moisture out so the treats stay crisp. It has to survive the trip across the country in a delivery van. It has to reseal after a dog has nosed it open on the kitchen floor. And we wanted it to break down when you're done with it.

That last one made everything else harder.

Round one: What we tried first

When we set out to package our single-ingredient treats, we originally planned to source bags overseas to keep initial costs low. However, as our "Canada First" philosophy took shape, the samples we received made it clear that cheap imported pouches failed our standards. Most rely on low-grade plastic resins with weak oxygen and moisture barriers, causing air-dried treats to quickly turn soft. Foreign manufacturers often use ultra-thin foil layers prone to micro-cracks during transit—exposing proteins to air and light—alongside high-solvent adhesives, flimsy zippers that tear off the track, and non-biodegradable synthetic inks. Realizing these low-quality materials compromised product freshness and our environmental values, we scrapped the overseas route to find a local packaging partner that truly aligned with our commitment to quality.

What we were actually looking for

By round two, we had a clear checklist sketched out on the back of an old invoice:

1. Keeps treats dry and crisp for up to 12 months.

2. Reseals properly, dozens of times.

3. Compostable.

4. Doesn't push the price of a bag out of reach.

Number 4 matters more than people think. A perfect bag that adds a few extra dollars to every order isn't much good to anyone.

We needed packaging that actually lived up to our "from the earth, back to the earth" promise—not just a clever marketing line. That meant finding a local solution built on bio-based, non-GMO, and renewable plant materials that break down naturally instead of sitting in a landfill for centuries. But eco-friendly couldn’t mean compromising on quality. We still needed a high-barrier film to lock out moisture and oxygen, keeping our air-dried proteins fresh and crunchy without relying on synthetic foils or heavy plastics. By partnering with a local Canadian supplier using state-of-the-art digital printing and certified compostable bio-films, we finally landed a pouch that protects the planet and preserves our treats—all without forcing us to jack up prices at checkout.

Where we landed

By round three, we finally landed on the pouch your dog sees today.

Our bags are crafted from bio-based, renewable non-GMO plant materials and are certified compostable, designed to return naturally to the earth without leaving microplastics behind. Every single pouch is digitally printed right here in Ontario, keeping our production local and our carbon footprint small.

It isn't perfect. Plant-based bio-films cost noticeably more to manufacture than standard plastic, and they require a cool, dry pantry spot to perform at their best once opened. But when it came down to choosing between cheaper plastic or protecting the environment, we decided that trade-off was entirely worth it.

What to do with your empty bag

• • Cut it into strips and add it to your backyard composter. Because our bags are certified home-compostable, they naturally break down and return to the earth in about 90 to 180 days.

  • Please don't put it in the blue bin. Compostable packaging isn't recyclable and can cause contamination issues for local recycling facilities.

Next up in the Test Kitchen

We're working on salmon and turkey now, and they come with their own packaging puzzles. Salmon oil is naturally rich and prone to seeping through standard bio-films, so we're currently test-rigging a specialized high-fat barrier layer to ensure the bag stays dry without sacrificing its compostability. We'll share how it goes

Read next: Why We Said No to Glycerin · Are Beef Lung Treats Good for Dogs?