Amazon's Sustainable Packaging Policy

Amazon's Sustainable Packaging Policy From reducing packaging to increasing the use of easily recyclable materials, Amazon is working to restructure how orders are shipped for the wellbeing of customers and the planet. Compared to electric vehicles, green hydrogen or next-generation photovoltaics, packaging may seem insignificant when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. However, when considering practical ways to minimize carbon emissions, eliminate waste and increase recyclability, packaging deserves careful consideration. The materials most commonly used in packaging have remained largely the same for decades, from paper to plastic, from aluminum to glass. Like most other retailers, Amazon utilizes a variety of packaging options for product shipment, including paper-based options such as boxes and corrugated envelopes as well as plastics including pouches and wrapping, optimized for strong durability, lightness and optimal sizing. Many retailers have embraced plastic because it is lightweight, water-resistant and allows for the use of less material. Additionally, because they are light and compact, plastic packaging often enables lower carbon emissions. However, plastics, particularly single-use plastics, are difficult to recycle, so they are more likely to generate waste in the long term. Although the plastic packaging Amazon uses today is recyclable, it typically requires customers to remove materials from their homes for storage at collection points. For this reason, one of Amazon's priorities has been to completely eliminate the use of excess packaging. Over the past several years, Amazon has invested in technologies, processes and materials that have helped reduce packaging weight per shipment by 38 percent and eliminated the use of more than 1.5 million tonnes of packaging material since 2015, despite an increasing number of deliveries. Additionally, amid a rapid increase in customer orders during the pandemic, the company continued to take steps to reduce single-use plastics in its packaging. In 2021, Amazon reduced average plastic packaging weight per shipment by over 7 percent, resulting in the use of 97,222 metric tonnes of single-use plastic across its global operations network to send orders to customers. Source