Wal-Mart plans to switch to Green Packaging

19-Dec-06

As a step towards achieving its goal of 5% packaging reduction across its' supply chain by 2013, Wal-Mart Stores, USA's largest retailer, has commenced a program to urge its suppliers to reduce the amounts of packaging and to use more recycled materials in packaging. With Q2-2006 net sales at US$84.5 billion, with this initiative, Wal-Mart could exercise enormous influence over the use of plastics packaging. Wal-Mart plans to use a scorecard to measure and recognize its entire supply chain, based on each company's ability to use less packaging, utilize more effective materials in packaging, and source these materials more efficiently relative to other suppliers. The scorecard rates each supplier based on nine criteria, including product-to-package ratio, packaging material value, recycled content, and amounts of greenhouse gases or CO2 emitted per ton of production.