METRO has announced the release of a framework to guide its teams and suppliers in the efficient management of its packaging and printed materials, including reduction and optimization.
“Our approach to managing packaging and printed materials has always rested on best practices and the collaboration between our teams and suppliers,” said Marie-Claude Bacon, vice president, public affairs and communications, METRO. “With this new policy, we remain committed to ongoing improvement and innovation and are reaching out to our customers to join us in this major program.”
According to the press release, the Packaging and Printed Materials Management Policy will enable METRO to implement practices to reduce the use of resources, limit product losses and reduce waste generation, while contributing to the global movement to tackle single-use plastics.
Rooted in two established concepts, life cycle approach and circular economy, the Policy is based on the following four principles:
- Reduce the use of packaging and printed materials
- Implement optimal design
- Select eco-responsible materials
- Facilitate recovery and recycling
“This new policy is the result of rigorous teamwork and is part of our approach to continuously improve our practices,” said Eric La Flèche, president and CEO. “We know that there is growing interest in packaging — and plastic in particular — among many groups, including our customers. We are confident that the measures we are putting forward will responsibly and effectively address these challenges.”
In addition to implementing the policy’s principles, the company will also:
- Reduce the number of single-use plastic shopping bags by 50 per cent in METRO’s food and pharmacy banners by the end of fiscal year 2023;
- Reduce overpackaging and single-use plastics in our food stores’ fresh sections;
- Reduce the total weight of the paper used in the flyers for METRO’s food and pharmacy banners by 10 per cent by the end of fiscal year 2022;
- For our private brand food packaging, by the end of fiscal year 2025:
- ensure that 100 per cent of the packaging is entirely recyclable or compostable (fibres only)
- ensure that 100 per cent of the packaging includes sorting instructions
- increase the proportion of post-consumer materials to 45 per cent
- Eliminate single-use plastic water bottles used by our employees in METRO’s administrative offices and distribution centres by the end of fiscal year 2019.
Since April 22, customers in Metro stores across Québec have been able to bring their own reusable containers to purchase fresh products — an initiative that helps to reduce single-use packaging.
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