From the Scorecard to the Playbook - Walmarts positive influence on packaging reduction & recycling
In November 2006 Walmart introduced the "Packaging Scorecard". Walmart wanted to continue its commitment of reducing packaging across its global supply chain and set a goal of 5% by 2013. The scorecard was a measurement tool that allowed suppliers to evaluate themselves relative to other suppliers and competitors based on specific metrics. These metrics evolved from the "7 R's of Packaging" that included remove, reduce, reuse, recycle, renew, and read.
The scorecard set certain sustainable goals/metrics including as mentioned a 5% packaging reduction. I worked with several customers on this scorecard. It brought renewed attention to the problem of packaging waste, that it needed to be dealt with and if you wanted to do business with Walmart you needed to start looking at reevaluating your packaging. Hat's off to Walmart for taking this initiative! I helped several of my food customers to reduce the thickness and sizes of their packages. As a result they were able to gain points with Walmart, lower cost and reduce packaging.
In 2016 Walmart unveiled the Sustainable Packaging Playbook that comprised best practices culled from its experience with the scorecard. The Playbook also set goals/metrics that would need to be met by 2025.
The purpose of the Playbook "is to provide a useful tool to support the transition to more sustainable packaging". The playbook is a fantastic tool for packaging companies/designers to use to design, compare and improve current and future packaging. It references best practices and information from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Association of Plastic Recyclers and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and Pure Strategies. Through it Walmart encourages all their suppliers "to take a life cycle perspective when seeking to optimize package design".
My hope is to see markets for recycled packaging materials grow and expand. With initiatives from companies like Walmart, markets for corrugated cartons, paper board, PET, HDPE and PP could increase dramatically as the 2025 goals set in the playbook get closer. For example, for PP containers (yogurt, lunchmeat, frozen meals along with health and wellness bottles) there's a goal for 25% post consumer resin to be used. 25%! The problem is that less than 1% of PP containers is currently recycled due to most local recycling programs being unable to collect and sort PP. It's been reported that to meet the demand for PCR resin, mandated for 2025 it would take 150 new plastics recycling plants and 300 by 2030. The demand is there, however the feedstock is not. What a great opportunity to get PP and more plastic packaging out of landfills!
Walmart has taken the initiative to put these goals and targets out there, creating unprecedented demand for recyclables. Many other large retailers have joined in and created similar goals for their vendors. Thank you Walmart for taking the lead! The challenge now is how do we collect the materials when most recycling programs are underfunded, under staffed, and have to contend with consumer apathy and understanding of what's recyclable and what's not.
The answer...Brand owners, the packaging industry and all stakeholders in the circular economy need to step up, work together, step down river and help insure these recyclables are collected, sorted, recycled and reprocessed into PCR and recycled paper. There's light at the end of the tunnel! We have a lot of work to do!