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Making a difference

A look at Costco’s efforts to reduce harmful emissions

by LUC LORTIE

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is a critical goal at Costco, and our buying and operations teams both play key roles in this area. Here is an update on one of our efforts that is making a difference.

Costco has been working on packaging improvements since the company’s inception, by buying, transporting and selling large-quantity items that require a lower packaging-to-product ratio than traditional smaller packages. When Costco adopted its Global Packaging Plan a few years ago, it included a four-point strategy: Reduce packaging and plastic, use recycled content, use compostable and recyclable materials and educate employees, members and suppliers about our efforts through improved labelling and more. Our motivation to “move less air during transportation is greater than ever.” (See “The tilted pan” for a good example.)

When possible, we redesign and switch plastic packaging from 100% virgin plastic to 100% recycled content, reducing the greenhouse gases produced to make each package by about 50%—quite a difference. In addition to reducing our footprint and those of our members by making the switch, our suppliers benefit as well from the savings realized.

At Costco Canada, we are currently working on more than 500 items in regard to sustainability. With a focus on keeping prices as low as possible for our members, it is our collective responsibility—Costco’s and its suppliers—to ensure that items are made with a reduced-packaging footprint and that transporting each product is optimized. It takes time, but as someone who has worked in the sustainability area for over 25 years, I have never seen this level of enthusiasm from our buying and operations teams and suppliers. This year to date, Costco Canada has reduced its packaging by 400,000 kilograms (440 tons) and increased its use of recycled content by 10 million kilograms (11,000 tons).

You can find more information on our sustainability efforts at Costco.ca; The site includes a link to Costco’s Global Sustainability Commitment for additional details about this important area.