Walmart Canada launches recycling initiative for excess and damaged reusable bags

Walmart Canada launches recycling initiative for excess and damaged reusable bags

Sustainability

Walmart Canada is pioneering a national initiative aimed at extending the lifespan of reusable shopping bags.

As the first major retailer in Canada to introduce such a programme, Walmart is collaborating with TerraCycle, a leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials, to offer customers a convenient way to recycle their excess or damaged reusable blue shopping bags.

Through the Walmart Blue Bag Recycling Programme, customers can participate free of charge by sending in their eligible bags. TerraCycle will then either launder and donate the bags for reuse by charity partners, including Food Banks Canada, or recycle damaged bags into raw materials used to create new products like plastic shipping pallets and outdoor furniture.

© Walmart

This programme underscores Walmart Canada's commitment to sustainability and marks another step forward in its journey towards becoming a regenerative company. In 2022, Walmart Canada made significant strides by eliminating single-use plastic shopping bags, preventing over 680 million plastic bags from entering circulation annually.

Jennifer Barbazza, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Walmart Canada, said: We know that transitioning away from single-use plastic bags two years ago has been a learning curve for Canadians – and we’re proud to be learning alongside them as we make this change together. Today, we’re proud to offer Canadians an opportunity for a “fresh start” by launching our national reusable bag recycling pilot programme. This first-of-its-kind national recycling pilot programme will allow Canadians to give their excess or damaged reusable blue bags a second life, free of charge, preventing them from taking up space at home or heading to landfill.

In 2023, the retail giant also announced plans to replace the majority of plastic mailers with paper mailers and adopt a "rightsize" approach to cardboard box packaging.

Latest Packaging News

Ocean bound plastics deemed unsuitable for food contact by UK regulators
Business

Ocean bound plastics deemed unsuitable for food contact by UK regulators

An assessment by the Joint Expert Group on Food Contact Materials (FCMJEG) has evaluated the use of...
German frozen bakery market leader ARYZTA continues to automate with Lantech packaging machines
Supplier News

German frozen bakery market leader ARYZTA continues to automate with Lantech packaging machines

With 26 large bakeries in 27 countries, including 12 in Europe, and around 8,000 employees...
Syntegon: Producing the perfect gummies and jellies
Supplier News

Syntegon: Producing the perfect gummies and jellies

When we say we are gummy experts, we mean it. Backed by over 95 years of jelly expertise, we...
Winemaker upholds wine tradition with Craemer CB3 High pallet box
Supplier News

Winemaker upholds wine tradition with Craemer CB3 High pallet box

With love and passion, a family of winemakers combines tradition and modern craftsmanship at their...
Spectra Packaging: It’s getting warmer – protect your PET bottles
Supplier News

Spectra Packaging: It’s getting warmer – protect your PET bottles

As temperatures climb, protecting PET bottles from heat damage becomes more important than ever. At...