US Plastics Pact offers packaging award through Walmart

The U.S. Plastics Pact is leveraging Walmart’s Circular Connector to showcase businesses helping to keep plastic packaging in the economy and out of the environment and help make progress on the U.S. Pact’s four targets.

“Eliminating problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and taking other actions to ensure that 100 percent of plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 are focal points of the U.S. Plastics Pact’s work. We are proud to partner with Walmart’s Circular Connector to help advance packaging solutions that contribute to a circular economy,” says U.S. Plastics Pact Executive Director Emily Tipaldo. “Winners will have the opportunity to put their solutions in front of technical staff who can assess viability and scalability alongside key decisions-makers across the plastics packaging value chain.”

“Sustainability at Walmart is an integrated part of our business, helping propel us toward our ambition to pursue becoming a regenerative company. We have made progress toward achieving our sustainability goals; however, there is still a long way to go – and we need your ideas to help us get there,” says Walmart Director of Sustainable Packaging and U.S. Pact Advisory Council Vice Chair Ashley C. Hall. “The Circular Connector is a tool designed to bridge the gap between those who need sustainable packaging solutions and those who offer them. Sustainable packaging solutions submitted to Walmart for evaluation through the tool could be considered for use by our Walmart Private Brands in addition to a U.S. Plastics Packaging Innovation Award.”

All companies that submit packaging solutions into Walmart’s Circular Connector before Aug. 12 will be considered for a U.S. Plastics Pact Packaging Innovation Award. There is no cost to enter.

Packaging innovation categories:

1. Recyclability – meets design for recyclability in U.S. systems (i.e., meets the Association of Plastic Recyclers Preferred Design Guidelines, How2Recycle Guidelines, contains no problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging), supports the transition from nonrecyclable to recyclable and/or meets Walmart’s Recycling Playbook Recyclable “Green” Pages;
2. Reuse/Refill where packaging is refilled or reused for the same purpose it was originally sold; and
3. Composability – meets the Biodegradable Products Institute’s composting certification standards.

Businesses of all sizes that service the U.S. market are eligible to enter. 

Winners will receive:

• manufacturing trial discussions with potential to pilot with Walmart; 
• four 30-minute mentoring sessions with Walmart Private Brand Packaging Teams;
• promotion through U.S. Plastics Pact channels, including highlights at sustainability conferences;
• technology showcase with procurement and technical staff from U.S. Plastics Pact Activators spanning across the plastics value chain; and
• chance to be featured on the Sustainable Packaging Podcast.