Wal-Mart Introduces Packaging Scorecard
by Eric Kane, New York, NY on 11. 7.06
As part of Wal-Mart’s continuing efforts to address its environmental footprint, the company established a goal to reduce packaging used by suppliers by 5% by 2013. In an effort to achieve this target, the retail behemoth has announced an innovative scorecard system. The scorecard will allow manufacturers to rank their current use of packaging. Scores will be given on several relevant categories including: greenhouse gas emissions produced per ton of packaging, raw material use, packaging size, recycled content, material recovery value, renewable energy use, transportation impacts, and innovation. Beginning in 2008, Wal-Mart will make purchasing decisions based on the scorecard results. Say what you will about Wal-Mart, but this policy will force manufacturers in a variety of sectors to reexamine their packaging processes. To see a demo of the scorecard system visit www.scorecardlibrary.com.
This scorecard idea sounds good. I hope they implement it seriously, and maybe they can bring forward the date if possible. If seriously implemented, it should have a positive impact. I hope other chains take note.
5% by 2013 seems to be a pretty minor shift. Given the horrible packaging practices in use now (mixed packaging, oversized packaging, etc) 5% per year would seem to be a more aggressive and still attainable goal.
One major reason for over-packaging in to reduce shop-lifting. However with the increased use of RFID tags in the manufacturing process this seems to be a prime target for reduction.
I think this is great.
I have a lot of green friends who think fighting these big corporations like walmart and starbucks is productive. I disagree. They're here to stay and the best we can do is try to protect the local commerce they haven't destroyed yet, and work to make these big companies greener.
We (environmentalists) have been saying for decades that going green can have many benefits, including economic ones, now lets prove it!
For example, my local WalMart started carrying wine from a local winery and a selection of organic and vegan foods. I go in every few months to get these products there, and EVERY time they have even more like it (morningstar farms was the latest addition). If we buy the right stuff they'll sell the right stuff (granted I bring my own canvas shopping bags...).
I have no illusions that this is about anything but the money. It may be for some individual employees, but corporately is's about the money. Still, it is significant that businesses are finding and arguing that you can make money by reducing your environmental impact. It's no longer a do-gooder task or a loss-leader marketing effort, but instead is a shrude business strategy.
That is a big change.
Mike
5% might not sound like much, but when figure thatWal-Mart is the largest retailer in North America, such an effort contributes to a meaningful and substantial reduction in packaging waste. It probably could stand to be a little more aggressive, but there might be something to be said for Wal-Mart showing corporations that packaging reduction is not only easier than they think but will also save them money too.
The other point is that Wal-Mart can probably see the writing on the wall when it comes to the inplementation into law concepts such as "polluter pays" or "externalized costs." Right now the product of waste costs a lot less than its acutal toll on the environment. Efforts like Wal-Marts program attempt to keep new regulation and legislation off their back in favour of voluntary "corporate social responsibility" measures designed and implemented by the corporations themselves. So in this sense, we have to be wary about applauding corps like Wal-Mart too much when, yes, legislation could potentially force a lot more to be done.
My concern is this: when brilliant guys like David Suzuki tell us packing is a huge problem back in the 1990's, why does it take 10 more years for anyone to begin doing something about it?