US retail giants Walmart and Sam’s Club are making significant strides in their sustainability initiatives with the introduction of a new food waste management system.

The companies have partnered with organics recycler Denali to deploy advanced 'depackaging' technology across more than 1,400 stores by the end of this month.

Previously a time-consuming manual process, the separation of expired or unsalable food products from their packaging has been streamlined with the Zero Depack programme.

Store associates now simply place items in a receptacle, where Denali's technology efficiently separates food from packaging materials with high accuracy.

This innovation not only frees up associate time for customer service but also significantly reduces labour costs associated with waste management.

Beyond operational efficiency, the Zero Depack system is a cornerstone of Walmart and Sam’s Club’s broader sustainability goals.

By diverting millions of pounds of food waste from landfills annually, the companies are making substantial progress towards reducing their environmental impact.

The recovered food waste is transformed by Denali into valuable biosolids, which can be utilised as a nutrient-rich soil amendment in agricultural practices.

The collaboration with Denali aligns with Walmart and Sam’s Club's ongoing efforts to minimise waste, conserve energy, and source products responsibly.

As the retail industry faces increasing pressure to address environmental concerns, these companies are positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable business practices.

By investing in innovative solutions such as Zero Depack, they are setting a new standard for the industry and inspiring other retailers to follow suit.

Walmart and Sam’s Club have placed focus on enhancing their technology in recent weeks.

Specifically, Sam’s Club announced it is expanding its digital advertising platform with the launch of display ads within its popular Scan & Go mobile checkout feature.

Additionally, Walmart is reportedly considering a significant investment in self-driving forklifts.