Retailer Influence on Packaging Sustainability 

 

Packaging is the most visible and important element of a brand’s eco-friendliness and sustainability. Manufacturers have been pushing sustainability as a way to improve their image and reduce operational costs. But now retailers are becoming more vocal and visible in their influence over the sustainability of a brand or product category. According to a recent survey, 40% of all retailers indicate that they are assessing product packaging opportunities as part of their sustainability programs.

 

Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiative, and particularly their Packaging Scorecard, has already had a profound impact on consumer packaged goods companies—and it continues to influence suppliers. CPGs are re-examining their packaging and rethinking their supply chain. And the changes will be global in scope—Wal-Mart has announced their plan to extend the Scorecard to Central and South America in 2009.

 

At the same time, shoppers are rapidly changing the way they shop—gathering information from non-traditional sources such as social media websites and blogs, and shopping on-line. The economic downturn has driven a drastic reduction in consumers’ willingness to experiment with new products, and a dramatic increase in deal searching. As a result, retailers are being forced to reevaluate their merchandising, store locations and value propositions.

 

Although the entire supply chain plays a vital role in implementing and supporting sustainable packaging, retailers have a particularly visible and important role as they:

 

·         Maintain a direct relationship with the end user,

·         Decide which products to stock, feature, advertise and promote,

·         Merchandise packaged goods,

·         Capture data at the point of sale,

·         Dispose of packaging.

 

This important and timely report, Retailer Influence on Packaging Sustainability, will examine these issues from the perspective of the retailer and provide insight into how retailers are influencing packaging sustainability. 

 

Methodology

 

PMG will complete interviews with environmental compliance managers, directors of sustainability, and other thought leaders at leading retailers in North America and globally. Results will be based on depth interviews with at least 75 executives at leading retailers across a broad range of product lines and target markets—grocery, soft goods, consumer electronics, drug, specialty, mass merchandisers, discounters, and others.

 

Survey results will be thoroughly analyzed and results presented in easy-to-read charts, graphs and tables.