Walmart advances sustainable potato packaging with 30% recycled content bags

USA – Walmart has introduced a groundbreaking potato bag featuring 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, marking the first such product in the category. 

Developed through a collaboration with Emerald Packaging, Idaho Package, and Wada Farms, the initiative launched trials in autumn 2024. 

These tests, led by Idaho Package and Wada Farms, a major potato grower and shipper, paved the way for a full rollout by year’s end.

The effort ties into Walmart’s Project Gigaton, a program targeting the reduction or avoidance of one billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 2030.

According to Walmart Vice President of Produce Sourcing Laura Himes, the company takes pride in partnering with these suppliers to bring the PCR bag to market. 

She noted that it helps minimize waste by incorporating recycled materials into retail packaging, while fostering ties with partners focused on environmental goals.

Emerald Packaging, which has pursued sustainable solutions for more than two decades, supplied the PCR resin. 

CEO Kevin Kelly explained that the firm created a reliable supply chain to meet retailer targets without affecting bag durability or raising costs significantly.

He added that the approach cut virgin polyethylene use by over 100,000 pounds across the initial dozen stock-keeping units (SKUs).

By June 2025, Walmart expanded the format to additional root vegetable SKUs, building on the potato success. 

This shift has already diverted substantial plastic from landfills, with each bag saving about 0.5 pounds of new resin per unit. 

Wada Farms contributed expertise in potato handling to ensure the bags maintained freshness during shipping and storage, addressing industry concerns over recycled materials’ performance.

The project demonstrates practical steps in circular economy practices for fresh produce packaging. 

Emerald Packaging’s resin blends meet food safety standards, including FDA compliance, while the lightweight design reduces transportation emissions. 

Suppliers report that the PCR content comes from sorted consumer plastics, processed into high-quality pellets suitable for flexible films.

Industry observers see this as a model for scaling recycled content in agriculture. Walmart plans further expansions, aiming to incorporate PCR across more produce lines by 2026. 

Kelly highlighted the affordability of PCR as a turning point, enabling broader adoption without premium pricing for consumers.

In related developments, Unilever announced in September 2025 a partnership with a European recycler to integrate 25% PCR into its ice cream tubs, targeting a 15% emissions drop per unit.

According to a company statement, the move supports global plastic treaty goals and has entered pilot testing in select markets. 

Such initiatives highlight growing momentum in food sector recycling, with projections estimating $500 million in annual savings from reduced virgin material purchases by 2030.

This potato bag launch sets a tangible benchmark, showing how targeted collaborations can drive measurable waste reductions in everyday grocery items.

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