August 7, 2007

Target Dumps Plastic Clamshell For Cardboard

iPod carrying cases in the consumer electronics department at Target stores are now sold in cardboard packaging instead of the usual plastic clamshell, The Star Tribune reports (via Sustainable is Good). When coupled with new packaging on several hundred other items, the move adds up to a significant environmental impact.

Target asked its packaging vendor to replace the clamshell with a recyclable cardboard package with a small plastic window. This single change will prevent an estimated 5,000 pounds of PVC from entering landfills each year.

About 18 months ago, Target pushed its seven private-label packaging companies to get rid of excess wraps. The result: Packages for more than 500 items, from dog leashes to toy rocket launchers, have been redesigned to be less harmful to the environment. In about 100 instances, PVC plastic was eliminated from private-label packages.

Big-box retailers such as Target and Wal-Mart Stores are exerting their power over suppliers to eliminate oversized and over-wrapped packaging for their private-label products.

Wal-Mart has pledged to eliminate all private-label PVC packaging by 2009.

More on trimming packaging.

Target recently launched a new gift card made of Mirel biobased plastic that is now available in 129 Target stores nationwide.

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