Packaging
HP Pavilion dv6929 Around the globe we are working with our suppliers to develop sustainable solutions to product packaging. We developed an online packaging scorecard to gather information on suppliers’ product packaging and help our buyers make more informed purchasing decisions. Goals- Reduce packaging by 5 percent globally by 2013 (2008 Baseline).
- Eliminate PVC from private brand packaging in the U.S. by October 2007.
- Update: We have made significant progress toward this goal, but for safety reasons, we will not eliminate PVC from certain items until another material of equal performance is developed.
- Be packaging neutral globally by 2025.
Objectives and Actions- Packaging Scorecard. We are working to measure progress towards reducing packaging in our supply chain by 5 percent. In February 2008, Walmart’s online packaging scorecard became available to all of our U.S. buyers. The scorecard:
- allows suppliers to measure how their product packaging helps reduce energy, eliminate waste and sell more sustainable products.
- currently contains information for approximately 90 percent of the items carried in Sam’s Club and 300,000 items carried in Walmart stores.
- has begun rolling out to our international markets, with Canada being the first country to integrate the scorecard into its business, and the rollout is expected to be completed by the fall of 2009.
- evaluates many environmental attributes of packaging, including greenhouse gas reductions, substrate material choices and chemical composition.
- gathers information to look at these factors through a “cradle-to-gate” approach.
- Sustainable Packaging Expo. Each year, our U.S. Packaging Network hosts a Sustainable Packaging Expo in Bentonville, Arkansas to:
- connect product suppliers with packaging suppliers who can suggest sustainable packaging options.
- provide attendees the opportunity to participate in educational sessions featuring speakers from Walmart’s U.S. Packaging Network and non-government organizations.
- Walmart’s Private Brands. We are actively working with our private brand suppliers to increase the sustainability of their packaging.
- For example, we’ve made sustainable packaging changes to the apple juice sold under the private Member’s Mark label at Sam’s Club:
- Approximately 50 percent of the corrugated box packaging is produced using 35 percent renewable energy generated from hydroelectric plants that use moving water to generate electricity.
- 50 percent of the corrugated box packaging used for Member's Mark Apple Juice is from 100 percent recycled corrugated.
- PVC in Packaging. In 2007, we realized we would not be able to meet our goal to eliminate PVC from our private brand packaging. However, we are making progress by:
- continuing to look for alternatives to PVC.
- Note: Currently, we are unable to find suitable replacements for PVC used in over-the-counter, tamper-evident bands, metal can sealants and meat wrapping, among others.
- converting PVC clamshells to PET and either completely removing PVC windows in packaging or replacing the PVC windows with PET.
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