Wegmans reduces waste in meat supply chain

Wegmans Food Markets is using sustainable packaging for select meat products.

Wegmans is partnering with reusable packaging and supply chain solutions provider Tosca to ship case-ready meat products in reusable plastic containers (RPCs). This packaging change is designed to remove more than 1 million pounds of corrugated cardboard from the supply stream. 

In addition, RPCs allow for higher stacking and improved cube utilization, resulting in more product per pallet and truck, with fewer trucks on the road. As part of a broader commitment to sustainability, Wegmans is focused on reducing waste and identifying more sustainable packaging alternatives. 

"We need to ensure packaging is functional and performs as expected, but we also want it to be environmentally responsible," said Jason Wadsworth, Wegmans category merchant, packaging and sustainability. "Switching to RPCs help us reach our sustainability goals by eliminating a significant amount of packaging waste."

"Tosca is dedicated to helping retailers optimize their supply chain but decreasing costs is only one piece of the puzzle for retailers that have aggressive sustainability goals," said Eric Frank, president and CEO of Tosca. "That's why we're excited to partner with Wegmans—not only will we help them reach their sustainable packaging goals, but we'll also help them lower transportation costs, reduce shrink, and improve product quality at the same time."