WALMART
US retailer urges suppliers to optimise packaging design, improve recyclability and remove hazchems / Sustainable packaging priorities outlined in new guidance document
US retail giant Walmart has urged suppliers to improve the sustainability of their packaging by optimising designs, sourcing materials sustainably and supporting recycling. In a new guidance document, the retailer says suppliers should eliminate unnecessary packaging, such as extra boxes, ties, or layers of packaging, and should design packaging to be the "right size" for contents to prevent damage to the product. They should also work with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC, Charlottesville, Virginia / USA; www.sustainablepackaging.org) and the Association of Plastic Recyclers (Washington DC / USA; www.plasticsrecycling.org) to design for recycling.
The new “Sustainable Packaging Playbook” asks suppliers to communicate the recyclability of a package, preferably by using the SPC’s “How2Recycle” label. To support recycling, it suggests that the following be avoided: biodegradable additives in petroleum-based plastics; inks that bleed in recovery stream wash water; adhesives that are not water soluble; paper labels on plastic packaging; and black plastic. Attachments should also be avoided and closures should be made of the same material as the parent package – or it should be ensured that the attachment or closure can be easily separated. In addition, PVC should not be used as a packaging material type, label or closure as it could increase the contamination of other plastic recycling streams.
Pressure sensitive labels can be used for PET containers to make them compatible with recycling, Walmart suggests. About 30% of PET packaging collected for recycling in the USA is not recycled, in part due to issues with labels and adhesives, it says.
Best practice also involves ensuring that hazardous chemicals have been removed from packaging, and suppliers are urged to identify priority chemicals and check they have been removed, reduced or restricted. Priority chemicals are classified as: carcinogenic; mutagenic; reprotoxic; persistent, bioaccululative and toxic (PBT); and any chemical for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health, or the environment.
e-Service:
Walmart “Sustainable packaging playbook” as a PDF file
The new “Sustainable Packaging Playbook” asks suppliers to communicate the recyclability of a package, preferably by using the SPC’s “How2Recycle” label. To support recycling, it suggests that the following be avoided: biodegradable additives in petroleum-based plastics; inks that bleed in recovery stream wash water; adhesives that are not water soluble; paper labels on plastic packaging; and black plastic. Attachments should also be avoided and closures should be made of the same material as the parent package – or it should be ensured that the attachment or closure can be easily separated. In addition, PVC should not be used as a packaging material type, label or closure as it could increase the contamination of other plastic recycling streams.
Pressure sensitive labels can be used for PET containers to make them compatible with recycling, Walmart suggests. About 30% of PET packaging collected for recycling in the USA is not recycled, in part due to issues with labels and adhesives, it says.
Best practice also involves ensuring that hazardous chemicals have been removed from packaging, and suppliers are urged to identify priority chemicals and check they have been removed, reduced or restricted. Priority chemicals are classified as: carcinogenic; mutagenic; reprotoxic; persistent, bioaccululative and toxic (PBT); and any chemical for which there is scientific evidence of probable serious effects to human health, or the environment.
e-Service:
Walmart “Sustainable packaging playbook” as a PDF file
01.12.2016 Plasteurope.com [235627-0]
Published on 01.12.2016