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By, Jennifer Guhl
Walmart reports that it will reduce packaging waste for online orders by adopting measures to reduce the hundreds of millions of packages it ships each year.
By the end of the current fiscal year, Walmart expects to eliminate 65 million plastic bag mailers from circulation, or more than 2,000 tons of plastic, as its e-commerce business grows by 27%. The rollout is expected to be completed nationwide by year’s end.
With Walmart Fulfillment Services, orders shipped from fulfillment centers, stores, and marketplaces will be shipped in recyclable paper bag mailers. Moreover, cardboard box packaging will be right-sized, shipping options for e-commerce orders will be consolidated, single-use plastic bags will be eliminated for online pickup orders, and last-mile delivery routes and delivery times will be reduced.
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By using right-sized packaging technology, about half of Walmart’s fulfillment network reduces packaging filler by 60%, resulting in a 26% reduction in overall waste from oversized shipments. Additionally, customers will be able to consolidate their orders into fewer boxes, reducing waste while reducing the number of shipments.
Walmart has made a commitment to achieve zero emissions by 2040, which includes long haul trucks. To further this effort, the company is leveraging AI technology to identify opportunities for purchases to be fulfilled through their stores instead of at fulfillment centers, subsequently reducing the miles driven by their delivery vehicles. In order to meet its zero emissions objective, Walmart also combines orders within delivery routes and uses electric vehicles. According to Jennifer Mckeehan, senior vice president of end-to-end delivery, 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store. She stated that “by strategically using our stores and last-mile delivery network, we can make a meaningful difference for our customers in terms of waste and emissions.”
In order to create a lasting net impact on the planet through its business practices, products, and services, the company has shared an extensive plan surrounding becoming more regenerative. With 46% of their current operations being powered by renewable energy, they have a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2035.
By 2040, Walmart plans to switch to low-impact refrigerant cooling and heating in its stores, clubs, data centers, and distribution centers and work with suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one gigaton. More than 5,500 of their suppliers have reported reducing or avoiding emissions since 2017.
Walmart is taking advantage of drones for last-mile delivery operations, which it considers to be a more environmentally friendly option compared to trucks. Already, they have established hubs in seven states and 26 municipalities, as they continue efforts to expand the technology. Amazon is also investing in drone technology for deliveries with a new model that will be ready by 2024 and be able to withstand harsher weather conditions.
