Walmart decision appears to favor kraft paper

Walmart Inc. says it intends to shift from plastic to paper in its mailer-sized home delivery applications and will offer customers the chance to opt out of single-use plastic bags for online pickup orders and some deliveries in another potential boon for kraft paper producers.

The large retailer says it currently is experiencing 27 percent growth in its Walmart eCommerce operations and wants to continue to expand its business and fulfillment network in a more sustainable way.

“Moving forward, nearly all orders shipped in plastic mailers from fulfillment centers, stores and marketplace items shipped with Walmart Fulfillment Services will arrive in recyclable paper bag mailers," the company says.

The planned transition is expected to eliminate 65 million plastic bag mailers or more than 2,000 tons of plastic from circulation in the U.S. by the end of the current fiscal year, Walmart says, creating a similar or larger boost in demand for kraft paper.

Regarding its plastic bags opt-out plan, Walmart says, “Early tests indicate promising adoption rates and potentially helping eliminate millions of single-use bags each year from circulation. Walmart expects to complete rollout nationwide by the end of the year.”

“Our commitment to regeneration is core to who we are and how we innovate at Walmart,” says Karisa Sprague, senior vice president at Walmart. “Customers have told us how excited they are about these enhancements to make it easier for them to make more sustainable choices that support the planet and the next generation.”

Jennifer McKeehan, senior vice president at Walmart, adds, “With a Walmart store located within 10 miles of 90 percent of the United States population, we can make a meaningful difference for our customers by strategically using our stores and last mile delivery network to reduce waste and emissions.”