Wal-Mart Stores aim to reduce plastic
Effort could eliminate plastic waste
equivalent to 9 billion plastic bags
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. committed to
reduce its global plastic shopping
bag waste by an average of 33 percent
per store by 2013. This is expected
to eliminate more than 135 million
pounds of plastic waste globally.
To help reach this goal, Wal-Mart
will reduce the number of bags given
out by its stores, encourage the
use of reusable bags and give customers
the ability to continue recycling
plastic shopping bags.
Wal-Mart’s comprehensive bag reduction
strategy is being developed in partnership
with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
It is estimated that roughly 60 to
80 percent of all marine debris is
plastic. Reducing plastic shopping
bag waste could also help reduce
government expenditures. For example,
the state of California spends approximately
$25 million per year to discard plastic
bags into landfills.
As part of the goal to reduce plastic
bag waste, Wal-Mart stores in Mexico
and the United States are introducing
new, more affordable reusable bags.
In early September, Wal-Mart de Mexico
introduced reusable bags at one-third
the cost of its current bags. In
the United States, Wal-Mart began
offering reusable bags in October
for $.50 each.
Wal-Mart’s commitment to reduce plastic
bag waste globally by 33 percent
includes a 25 percent reduction from
United States stores and a 50 percent
reduction from international operations.