Wal-Mart Canada plans to phase out PVC plastic packaging for all energy efficient light bulbs, eventually carrying bulbs packaged only in cardboard.

The move will avoid the use of an estimated 150,000 pounds of PVC a year when fully implemented and will also use packaging that is fully recyclable. More than 65 percent of the cardboard packaging that will be used will be made of 100 percent recycled material and about 30 percent will include vegetable dye in the inking process.

The switch is part of the company's goal to reduce the amount of packaging for products it sells by 5 percent by 2013, itself a part of Wal-Mart's long-term, overarching goals of creating zero waste, being powered 100 percent by renewable energy and providing environmentally-preferable products.

In early 2007, Wal-Mart created a packaging scorecard for suppliers to fill out, taking into account factors such as energy used to make packaging, possible reductions in materials, renewable materials used and if the packaging is recyclable, biodegradable or compostable.

The score ranks suppliers among their peers and the company works with suppliers to improve their packaging. Wal-Mart will also use the scorecard to make purchasing decisions.