How can retailers reduce waste

According to Fast Company , over billion packages are shipped within the United States each year, which is the equivalent of over one billion trees annually. Much of the inefficiency inherent in eCommerce waste comes from the overwhelming overpackaging of many products. To reduce the potential for damage to their products, many companies simply overpack their products.

Most consumers have had the experience of buying a product online and having it shipped to them in a large cardboard box filled with plastic bags full of air, all surrounding a smaller box containing the actual purchase. Although this does usually protect the product, it comes at a high cost in terms of waste. Many are also making an effort to refine their processes and detect inefficiencies before they proliferate through the product line and create more waste.

One in seven truckloads of perishable food items is thrown out by retailers. The NRDC says the food is tossed for a variety of reasons including overstocking, low presentation standards, and misleading date labels. This food waste contributes to the 3. Here are just a few of the initiatives they can put in place to do their bit for the planet. Implement expiration date tracking technology.

Expiration date tracking technology eliminates this problem. Automating the manual checking of expiration dates not only saves valuable time, but also allows stores to discount soon-to-expire products so that nothing goes to waste and they get a little extra revenue into the bargain.

And as grocery retailers doing so much more with less time and resources these days, this kind of technology will be a major help to overwhelmed store teams with a lot on their plates!

Train store employees on food waste issues. Store team training should of course be a high priority for retailers on all fronts. But the urgency of the climate crisis makes it all the more important to ensure that your teams are up to scratch on their food waste knowledge. Incorporating specific courses on food waste into your training program will heighten employee awareness on the issue and encourage them to do their part in fixing it.

Where possible, try to minimise the packaging you use when you send products out to customers or try to find recyclable alternatives. Asking your suppliers to do this too will help you cut down on the amount of waste packaging you generate.

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Start With a Retail Waste Audit A project of this type will vary widely based on the type of store that you have. Small businesses are able to conduct such an audit internally: Make a list of different categories of waste. Demarcate a certain area for each category. Gather all waste from a set time period probably a week. Separate it into each appropriate section. Measure each container to see where waste is greatest. Consider all items in the pile that were unnecessary.

Incentivize Use of Reusable Bags Reusable bags are becoming more popular all the time. How to Reduce Waste in Retail with Less Packaging Unnecessarily bulky packaging is one of the most avoidable ways to cut down on waste a la oranges placed in styrofoam and wrapped in cling wrap.

Look for extra pieces of plastic, cardboard, or paper that can be taken away. Avoid wrapping items in more than one layer. Offer efficient gift wrapping during the holiday season. Order in bulk from vendors. Make Recycling Easy At this point, every business should be recycling. Add them to a clearance or discount section of the store.

Sell them at a reduced price to discount retailers. Give them as gifts to your staff. Implement a Buy-Back Program Some retail stores have taken the last step to the next level by encouraging customers to bring in products they no longer want through a retail buy-back program.

Lower Your Waste By Carrying Environmentally Friendly Products Another way to indirectly reduce your retail waste is to focus on how you source products. Thank you!