How Wal-Mart Measures Sustainability

With the collaborative effort of many of its suppliers, Wal-Mart launched its Sustainable Packaging Initiative with the following goals:

1. To be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy by making stores more efficient.
2. To create zero waste by an improvement in all private brand packaging and reducing overall packaging as soon as 2008.
3. To sell products that sustain resources and the environment.

The Seven "Rs" of Sustainable Packaging
In 2006, Wal-Mart launched its Sustainable Packaging Initiative with the goal of reducing overall packaging in its stores by five percent by 2008.  Wal-Mart will only carry products that are packaged with materials safe for human and ecological health.

This means that, to retain your market share with Wal-Mart, your products and packaging must meet "The Seven R's" of Sustainable Packaging.

1. Remove.  Eliminate unnecessary packaging, extra boxes or layers
2. Reduce.  "Right size" packaging, use fewer or lighter components
3. Reuse.  Use post-consumer recycled material (PCR), reusable plastics
4. Renew.  Use materials made from renewable resources
5. Recycle.  Recycled, recyclable, compostable materials
6. Revenue.  Achieve the above for the same or lower cost
7. Read.  Print recycled / recyclable message on packaging

Production of this eco-friendly packaging must also minimize greenhouse emissions and toxins, and must result in a reduction in energy input in manufacturing, transporting, shipping and storing.

The Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard
Wal-Mart has created its Packaging Scorecard as a proposed measurement tool for suppliers to evaluate themselves relative to other suppliers on "the 7 Rs" of Sustainable Packaging.

The Scorecard system is designed to encourage companies to make a competitive analysis of their own sustainable packaging materials and practices.  Wal-Mart will require that all packaging conform to these standards.

Developed by the Packaging Sustainable Value Network, a group of 200 leaders in the global packaging industry, the Scorecard requires packaging to meet the following standards:

15% based on GHG/CO2 per ton of production
15% based on material value
15% based on product / package ratio
15% based on utilization
10% based on transportation
10% based on recycled content
10% based on recovery value
5% based on renewable energy
5% based on innovation

Shorewood Packaging can work with you as you develop a score for your package using the Wal-Mart Modeling Software.