Wal-Mart has released the initial results of its Packaging Scorecard, a program developed to gauge the progress vendors are making in reducing packaging waste and assisting in the protection of natural resources and the environment.
The Scorecard program, first launched last September at the Clinton Global Initiative, is part of Wal-Mart's initiative to reduce vendor packaging by five percent by 2013. The Scorecard's online database allows vendors to calculate the impact of how a number of packaging related factors impact the environment.
"Wal-Mart has made a commitment to reducing waste in packaging in order to sustain our resources and environment and to reduce total system costs," said Matt Kistler, senior vice president of marketing, research, and insights for Sam's Club and captain of Wal-Mart's Packaging Sustainability Network, in a press release. "We are in a unique position to drive positive change in the area of sustainability by working with our suppliers. The packaging scorecard helps everyone make better decisions that are good for business, our customers and the environment."
Wal-Mart has said that in its first month, 2,268 vendors went online to the Scorecard site. A total of 117 items have been entered into the system. The retailer is looking for these numbers to increase significantly over the next year.
"We have already used the scorecard to evaluate two types of packaging," said Josh Hannay, business development manager from Ruiz Food Products. "The scorecard was easy to use and gave us a single number that translates into how we're doing and how we can do better. Our company is looking forward to reducing waste while saving money."
"It's important to show that being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment," said Mr. Kistler.
Discussion Questions: Has going green finally passed beyond what was once cynically viewed as a public relations ploy to a business imperative (making or saving dollars) for companies? To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement as it pertains to retailers: "Being an efficient and profitable business goes hand-in-hand with being a good steward of the environment."