The move will allow the retailer to avoid up to three-quarters-of-a billion plastic bags from entering circulation every year
Walmart Canada is set to avoid the use of single-use plastic shopping bags. (Credit: Wal-Mart Canada Corp.)
Walmart Canada has unveiled plans to eliminate single-use plastic shopping bags, as part of its efforts to minimise plastic waste.
The move will allow the retailer to avoid up to three-quarters-of-a billion plastic bags from entering circulation every year.
Walmart will avoid the use of plastic shopping bags for in-store shopping for online grocery pickup and delivery orders.
By Earth Day next year, which is 22 April 2022, Walmart aims to implement the sustainable initiative in more than 400 Canadian locations through phases.
Following a 10-store pilot that commenced in August this year, the sustainable programme is now being rolled out across the country.
The pilot programme enabled the elimination of around six million plastic bags, said Walmart.
Walmart Canada president and CEO Horacio Barbeito said: “Eliminating plastic shopping bags is a significant milestone on our journey to becoming a regenerative company – and it’s the right thing to do.
“We know this is important for our associates and our customers. I’m so proud of our team for taking this step, the most recent in a series of significant changes to ensure we’re doing right by our associates, customers and the planet and leading the way when it comes to regenerative practices.”
Walmart already avoided the use of plastic wrap for organic banana bunches and single peppers, thereby helping to avoid over 205,000 pounds of plastic per annum.
The retailer has also increased post-consumer recycled content in the packaging holding baked goods. It enables the company to avoid the use of 925,000 pounds of new plastics per annum.
By introducing new packaging for sausage trays, Walmart is eliminating 420,000 pounds of expanded polystyrene from the supply chain per annum.
The retailer has also replaced single-use plastic straws with paper alternatives in-store, thereby enabling to eliminate 35 million single-use plastic straws per annum.