Walmart Teams With US Plastic Pact on Green Packaging Awards

Walmart’s Circular Connector sustainable packaging initiative (see 2204110045) teamed with the U.S. Plastic Pact on innovation awards to inspire new packaging and provide a platform for innovators to test their ideas, the retailer said Tuesday. Companies that submit packaging before Aug. 12 will be considered for an innovation award. The awards program, free to enter for companies serving the U.S. market, focuses on three categories: 1) recyclability, according to guidelines set by the Association of Plastic Recyclers or How2Recycle; 2) reuse/refill, where packaging is refilled or reused for the same purpose under which it was originally sold; and 3) compostability, according to Biodegradable Products Institute’s standards, Walmart said. Winners will receive manufacturing trial discussions with Walmart, four 30-minute mentoring sessions with Walmart Private Brand Packaging teams and a chance to be featured on a sustainable packaging podcast. Other judging criteria include sustainable sourcing, virgin plastic reduction and material health, the company said. Winners will be announced in fall, it said.