Amazon is taking steps to be more environmentally friendly by eliminating plastic pillow filling in its packaging. The company has already replaced 95% of plastic air pillows in its delivery packaging at fulfillment centers in North America and aims to remove them completely by the end of the year. This change will eliminate nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows from use annually.
The decision to transition to recycled paper as packaging filler comes after Amazon faced criticism from environmental groups, such as Oceana, for its use of plastic. While Oceana welcomed Amazon’s efforts, the organization emphasized the need for the company to do more to reduce waste. Matt Littlejohn, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Oceana, stated that Amazon should fulfill its commitment to transition away from plastic in its North America fulfillment centers and expand efforts to move away from single-use packaging worldwide.
Oceana previously estimated that Amazon generated 208 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in the United States in 2022, representing a significant increase from the previous year. However, Amazon investors have supported the company’s efforts to reduce waste and have encouraged it to outline its plan for waste reduction. In 2022, Amazon disclosed that it used 85,916 metric tons of single-use plastic, which marked an 11.6% decrease from the previous year. This reduction was primarily due to Amazon’s efforts outside of the United States, where the company claimed to have reduced single-use plastic delivery packaging with recyclable paper and cardboard.
Amazon began transitioning away from plastic air pillows in October 2023 at an automated fulfillment center in Ohio. Through testing and learning, the company found that the paper filler provides equal or better protection for shipping compared to plastic air pillows. The paper filler is made from 100% recyclable content and is curbside recyclable. Employees at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Bakersfield, California expressed that the paper filler is easier to work with and provides more space for packing orders.
In addition to eliminating plastic air pillows, Amazon is also working on a campaign to ship items without additional packaging. In 2022, 11% of all Amazon packages shipped worldwide were without added delivery packaging. The company is collaborating with Glacier, an artificial intelligence company, to use robots for automated recyclable sorting and collect data on recycling streams. This partnership aims to further reduce landfill waste.
By making these changes, Amazon is taking significant steps towards reducing its environmental impact and addressing concerns about plastic waste. While there is still progress to be made, the company’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and a willingness to explore innovative solutions for packaging.
