Walmart is taking a step towards sustainability with a new approach to eco-friendly packaging.
With the growing popularity of Walmart’s eCommerce strategy and online sales quickly increasing, the retail corporation is rethinking its packaging goals.
For starters, Walmart will be swapping its plastic mailer for paper packaging which can be recycled curbside. Due to the magnitude of Walmart’s nationwide business, its shift from plastic to paper mailers should result in the elimination of 2,000 tons of plastic in the U.S. by the end of January 2024.
Additionally, the corporation will be implementing made-to-fit technology in half of its fulfillment centers. This innovative approach will directly result in waste reduction, as each box for shipping will use less packaging material.
By the end of 2023, Walmart also aims to give customers the option to skip using plastic bags when picking up curbside orders.
The company’s switch to sustainability seeks to offer customers an environmentally friendly approach without the hefty price tag, according to Jane Ewing, Walmart’s senior vice president of sustainability.
Walmart is not the first retail corporation aiming to reduce waste within its chain of operations.
Both Amazon and Target are exploring various approaches to sustainability. Amazon has also invested in made-to-fit technology for online orders, while Target has worked towards replacing bubble wrap with recyclable paper for cushioning.
