Walmart

At a Glance

Industry

Retail and Apparel

Project Types

Engagement and Behavior Change, Supply Chain, Zero Emission Vehicles, Freight and Logistics

Year

2024

Location

Shenzhen, Guangdong

Summary

Zeyuan Zhu conducted research to explore opportunities for optimizing sustainable transport packaging within the supply chains of Walmart hypermarkets and Sam's Club.

Goals

To reduce the environmental impact of packaging in Walmart's supply chain, Zeyuan Zhu joined the Walmart sustainability team, focusing on minimizing packaging waste, promoting the use of recyclable, reusable, or compostable materials, and optimizing operational practices to align with Walmart's global aspiration of achieving zero waste. The project emphasizes innovative approaches to reducing packaging, encouraging circular economy practices, and engaging with suppliers and consumers to support a more sustainable retail industry.

Solutions

Through comprehensive industry research, supply chain investigation, corporate case analysis, and data visualization, this study presents detailed optimization strategies, including: - Packaging Reduction: Minimize material usage by downsizing and optimizing packaging, such as using thinner wraps and eliminating excess packaging. - Material Substitution: Replace non-sustainable materials, like single-use plastics, with recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable alternatives. - Operational Standardization and Awareness: Standardize packaging processes to prevent overuse and raise customer awareness for recycling and reuse practices.

Potential Impact

- Reduction in Carbon Footprint and Waste: Optimizing packaging and switching to sustainable materials will significantly lower carbon emissions and reduce overall waste generation. - Cost Savings: Minimizing material usage and improving operational efficiency will result in cost reductions in packaging, transport, and disposal.

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