Dive Brief:

• Best Buy has achieved a key sustainability goal set in 2021 that aimed for the company to have zero waste at all its supply chain facilities.
• The consumer electronics giant announced Tuesday that all 29 of its supply chain facilities had been certified as zero waste and met requirements outlined under the Total Resource Use and Efficiency designation from the Green Business Certification Inc. GBCI verifies global green building and sustainability standards including the LEED program.
• The TRUE certification requires companies to divert over 90% of their waste from landfills, conduct regular waste audits, comply with local laws and discharge permits, keep contamination levels under 10% and maintain an active zero waste policy.

Dive Insight:

Best Buy said its supply chain facility in Chino, California, was the first to achieve the certification for zero waste in 2021. The company did not disclose which facility was the last to qualify for the certification.

“Waste reduction is an important part of our environmental efforts to conserve resources and promote sustainable operations across all our business,” the retailer said in an August 18 press release.

To achieve this goal, Best Buy said it optimized how it packaged goods, built on its recycling programs and “implemented innovative practices,” like introducing employee-led “green teams” at each of its facilities, to reduce waste and increase efficiency of its existing resources. Green team members help support the company’s waste diversion goals and educate and train peers on how to achieve such targets. 

Best Buy said it also repurposes foam materials like Styrofoam throughout its supply chain. The company uses industrial densifiers to melt and condense the foam into solid blocks which are then shipped to its partners who convert the material into new products like packaging, building materials, and even picture frames.

The company said cardboard and plastic make up the largest share of the materials it collects and diverts from its landfills.

“This achievement reaffirms our dedication not only to minimize our environmental impact but also improve our efficiency for the long-term success of the company,” Best Buy Head of Environmental Sustainability Tim Dunn said in the release.

Last month, the retail giant said it had expanded its solar power portfolio by installing a solar garden atop one of its New York stores and additional solar power generation near a distribution center in California. The New York installation was its first solar installation co-located at a store.

The company has a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.