Source reduction is decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the manufacturing, distribution and packaging of products. Because it stops waste before it starts, source reduction is one of the top solid waste priorities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and for a growing number of packaged goods brands – in part driven by its environmental impact but largely because of the cost savings realized. Leading retailers such as Wal-Mart are fully embracing source reduction as a leading sustainability principle to be followed not only by their corporation, but by their 100,000 global suppliers as well. » » » »
