Asda plans 2009 rollout for packaging scorecard in UK

Asda packaging buyer Shane Monkman said the multiple was looking at how to make the scorecard, which requires suppliers of packaged goods to submit data on their packaging and its environmental performance, "absolutely relevant to the UK".

This would take issues such as UK waste streams and packaging disposal options into consideration.

In addition, some measurements used by Wal-Mart in the US – for example, scores for transportation are based on thousands of miles travelled – would not be suitable for the UK, so Asda plans to commission an independent third party to set the correct methodology.

Asda does not have a specific plan yet for the rollout, but Monkman said he "suspected" it would be adopted first with major suppliers, such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, that already had experience of the scorecard in the US.

"They will play a big part in our decision-making going forward," he said.

Wal-Mart started a one-year trial of the packaging scorecard in the US from February 2007, as part of plans to cut packaging across its global supply chain by 5% by 2013. Suppliers receive an overall score relative to other suppliers, as well as relative scores in each category.

However, last year the scorecard faced criticism from the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (Europen), which said it should not be considered an environmental evaluation tool because its aggregated result "cannot be scientifically validated".

Monkman said Asda's packaging team would continue to focus on its "remove, reduce and recycle mantra" in the year ahead.

He also wants to improve the information Asda provides customers about the recyclability of its packaging, and "about two dozen" of its products now feature the common recycling logo launched by the British Retail Consortium and major multiples in November 2007.

Asda will incorporate the logo into all new packs going through the development process.

Wal-Mart US packaging scorecard composition
15% greenhouse gases/CO2 per tonne of production
15% material value
15% product/package ratio
15% cube utilisation
10% transportation
10% recycled content
10% recovery value
5% renewable energy
5% innovation

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