Walmart just announced its new plans to reduce waste in packaging with its online orders, eliminating millions of plastic bag mailers.
Walmart has been in the public eye when it comes to recycling lately, after it was dropped the national recycling program, but the popular retailer is looking to get back on the right side of the recycling conversation with some new shipping procedures.
The new initiative from Walmart would eliminate over 65 million plastic bag mailers, which amounts to more than 2,000 tons of plastic, by the end of the year. Instead of plastic, Walmart will be shipping orders in recyclable paper bag mailers.
Along with this, customers in the U.S. will have the option to opt out of single-use plastic bags when they pick up online orders from Walmart stores.
Walmart will also work to reduce the amount of carboard used for shipping products to customers. Customers will able to request that their products be consolidated down into fewer boxes for shipping.
The retail giant is also working to limit its transportation emissions and energy usage by using AI to identify when an online order can be fulfilled by a Walmart store rather than fulfillment centers.
Lastly, Walmart has set lofty goals for itself by planning to achieve 100% recyclable, reusable, or industrially compostable packaging for its private brand packing by 2025.