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Somewhere Beyond the Plastic Bag Lies the Future of Retail

   John Doe      July 23rd, 2021

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We use around 1 trillion plastic bags every year worldwide! While most of us have no idea of the stats, the average use span of each plastic bag is about only 12 minutes. 

In the United States alone, less than 10% of plastic bags used get recycled. Single-use polythene bags are still among the top 10 things that pollute the coastlines, oceans, and other significant water bodies. It is a big problem that the world is dealing with currently. The major contributor to this problem is the retail industry, which still uses plastic bags for carrying commodities and products. 

So, the retail industry, as a whole, should try to come up with initiatives to tackle this issue and eradicate the use of plastic bags. But it is not easy. General breakthroughs rarely come straight away, especially while dealing with such a large-scale global issue. 

But overcoming all hurdles, several retail companies and organizations have taken the initiative to eliminate plastic bags. And one such exemplary initiative was taken by a US-based multinational convenience store chain- Walmart. 

Walmart’s Global Initiative to Go Beyond Plastic Bags

During the coronavirus pandemic past year, Walmart set out to go past using plastic shopping bags. Instead, they were determined to seek alternatives that might fulfil a more comparable purpose and at the same time provide consumer efficiency and reduce the adverse ecological effect. 

With their involvement in the “Beyond the Bag” project and their efforts throughout their franchise in Mexico and Vermont, they strive diligently to speed up development and environmental sustainability.

Beyond the Bag

Last year, Walmart partnered with Target and CVS Health as one of the major supporters and founding members for the “Beyond the Bag” initiative. Ever since, several other retailers, like Kroger, The TJX Companies, Inc., and others have joined hands with them to support the cause.

A multitude of remarkable ideas was presented here from everywhere around the globe. As a result, every significant retail organization wanted to be a part of the Beyond the Bag Challenge.

 Strategies focused on new techniques that use the IoT to link clients in-store or at their own house with circulating greener packing bag solutions. Other ideas included creative or conventional materials to replace single-use plastic bags.

Following rigorous evaluations and debates, nine finest solutions were eventually selected as winners from over 450+ proposals. In addition, some of the following have been mentioned:

ChicoBag: An inexpensive option that is reusable for individuals who are likely to forget their reusable bags at home

Fill it forward: Return, measure your impact, get incentives, and never forget your bag.

GOATOTE: Allow consumers to obtain clean, reusable bags wherever, when, or how you are shopping.

PlasticFri: Strach- based Agricultural Waste Compostable Bag.

The Winning organizations received funding of $1 million from the consortium partners to assist transform their idea into reality. Walmart aims to implement some of these successful solutions as well. In addition, they want to continue their beyond-the-bag activities everywhere they possibly can.

Let us look at some successful projects they have established thus far.

Walmart’s successful initiatives around the world

Mexico going Bagless

Walmart is adopting bagless culture in Mexico and Central America. They realized that they had to discontinue supplying plastic bags as rules proceeded to change. However, they decided to take the bag entirely out of the game. They encourage their consumers to search for reusable bags rather than giving more single-use plastic bag options. More than 72 per cent of our retailers in Mexico did not deliver plastic bags since December 2020.

Vermont

A bagless trial has just been initiated at Vermont, emphasizing their goal to null waste and ultimately working towards a circular business in which materials we utilize remain in operation. This initiative is still under testing, but the results so far have been very satisfactory.

No plastic packaging anymore from Flipkart India

Walmart’s Flipkart removed every single-use packaging material used in its centers in India.

The Walmart ECS division fulfilled its stated pledge by 2021 to migrate to plastic-free packing to its distribution network.

It was achieved through over 70+ Flipkart sites all over the country, where the most scalable sustainable alternatives such as cardboard, paper shaving rather than bubble wraps, biodegradable boxes, etc., are being used currently. 

What lies in the future for plastic bags, and how can you be a part of it

No significant change has ever been brought upon by the initiative of only a single individual. So, for this challenge, we all need to engage in new and fresh innovative ideas and attempt to implicate various initiatives for this singular shared purpose. 

Hence, we encourage all consumers to be a part of this drive towards more sustainable development. 

Tiny changes can sum up to use effect- every initiative is crucial and exemplary to the bigger picture. For example, using reusable bottles, recycling old plastic containers, traveling with reusable bags- all these actions are equally vital. 

Retail organizations should try to pick up more sustainable ways of conducting business. We all must work our way towards a bright green and safer future, beyond the use of plastic bags.  

Also Read, Top 5 Benefits of Plastic Packaging