A couple of plastics-related stories today have a Wal-Mart Stores Inc. connection. First, the retailer announced on Monday that its stores in Canada are phasing out plastic packaging from its energy-saving light bulbs.
"The change will eliminate an estimated 150,000 pounds of PVC plastic waste each year, increase package recyclability and save natural resources," the company announced in its news release. It cited its "packaging scorecard" as a driver in the decision.
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us Inc. and Target Stores Inc. announced that they have instructed their toy suppliers to meet strict new standards on the amount of lead and other materials. The retailers' standards are stricter than what is called for by House and Senate bills, according to this Associated Press story. The story goes on to address some plastics-related materials: phthalates and bisphenol A.
Bentonville-based Wal-Mart told its suppliers to reduce the amount of phthalates, a chemical used to soften plastics. The updated Wal-Mart requirement matches rules in California, standards Toys "R" Us and Target say they will also meet. The California rules limit phthalates to 0.1 percent.
That looks like the last word on the subject of phthalates and childrens' products. Others can continue the debate. But once Wal-Mart decides, suppliers will find a way to meet the standard.
Comments (3)
Of course the thermoformed plastic material is possible to recycle. We have supplied one recycling plant for PET recycling in California, that is producing 2,000 KG/Hr of clean High Quality PET Flakes for the Californian thermoforming Market.
In the same plant we have supplied two extrusion lines using 100% recycled PET to make new sheet. This is a successful operation that has even been published in Plastic Technology Magazine and was recently on Television earlier in the week. (Check out GLOBAL P.E.T. in Perris, California.)
The technology for making new high quality packaging with recycled material exists and our technology can manufacture the same item as virgin (Even better some state!) at a lower price! It is sad to think how much money is going to be lost due to shipping breakage and dropping the bulbs in the stores, etc, not to mention all the hazard waste clean-up from the mecury when these light bulbs start breaking.
Certainly it is not quicker to shoot the messenger than look for proven existing technology for solutions!
We even have a small "modular" processing plant for Post-Consumer material that would be excellent for WalMart's Distribution Centers, where they could bring back all the post-consumer PET packaging material and process it to make High Quality clean flakes, but that is asking too much of them! They could then lead the world in recycling plastics rather than lead the world in BANNING plastics.
Sadly another case to ban the benefits of plastics and in this case has a proven success that it can be recycled and saves money!
Regards,
Anthony Georges,
President, AMUT North America, Inc.
Posted by Anthony Georges | May 15, 2008 2:18 PM
Posted on May 15, 2008 14:18
Our company reclaims millions of pounds of PVC, PET and other materials per year for our clients. These materials are generated by the packaging industry as well as a limitless range of other industries including retail distribution channels.
I agree with Anthony Georges that Wal Mart and consequently other retailers and their suppliers are being forced to implement what will prove to be in the long run a more expensive and environmentally unsound "solution" to the use of plastics. What is needed is a better managed system to reclaim these materials. We have successfully implented these solutions around the country. Feel good solutions never outweigh the benefits of well thought out ones.
Posted by bob perrone | May 16, 2008 8:56 AM
Posted on May 16, 2008 08:56
It will be interesting to see, in light of Wal-Mart's packaging directives, what happens in terms of loss control and sales of the affected plastics items. As to the retailers' new specs concerning allegedly problematic compounds, we'll just have to see how that works out - in a way it's as if they are privatizing some of CPSC's functions.
Posted by Mark Sofman | May 16, 2008 1:02 PM
Posted on May 16, 2008 13:02