Amazon, Walmart and other major retailers are looking to accelerate sustainable packaging innovation by clarifying their expectations for suppliers.
The Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s Retailer Forum was launched in response to a simple observation: major retailers’ private brands have significant scale, but progress in sustainable packaging depends heavily on the formats suppliers are able to provide.
The forum brought together Amazon, Walmart, Target and CVS Health during its first phase. Discussions showed that these companies shared many common challenges in private-label packaging.
The forum’s first request focused on low-barrier flexible films, with priority given to widely recyclable alternatives. Nine suppliers submitted proposals, with four finalists selected.
For participants, the initiative helps create a common voice. Suppliers sometimes say they do not clearly hear certain needs from the retail sector. The forum is therefore intended to amplify the signal and define what retailers consider to be good innovation.
Amazon noted that the diversity of private-label packaging represents a major challenge, ranging from OTC products to heavy and bulky furniture. Walmart, meanwhile, stressed that an innovation may exist but not necessarily fit the operational constraints of retail.
The next stage will focus on bottles, containers and closure systems that support source reduction. R&D submissions will be accepted until July 10.
Solutions will need to demonstrate recyclability, compatibility with existing equipment, scalability, economic competitiveness and compliance with California regulations SB 343 and SB 54.
For SPC, these briefs have value beyond the forum itself: they clarify what the industry really needs and give suppliers a stronger basis for presenting innovations to retailers.
