Amazon in North America is bidding farewell to plastic air pillows in favor of recycled paper filling for packages. The shift is part of Amazon's commitment to environmental sustainability and efficiency, citing paper as a more practical alternative.
This move marks Amazon's most extensive effort to reduce plastic packaging in North America.
BERLIN, GERMANY - JUNE 18: A courier unloads Amazon packages during a delivery on June 18, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Amazon has expanded rapidly in Germany and now has at least 13 Amazon warehouses nationwide. (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Amazon Transitioning Away From Plastic Air Pillows
As of Thursday, Amazon has replaced 95% of its plastic air pillows with paper filler across North America, aiming for complete elimination by the end of the year. According to Amazon, the initiative will ensure customers receive undamaged orders while minimizing packaging waste and prioritizing recyclable materials.
The Associated Press reported that Amazon announced that plastic air pillows would be excluded from nearly all customer deliveries during Prime Day next month. The e-commerce giant projected to eliminate 15 billion plastic air pillows annually with new paper packaging.
Amazon said it has found through testing that its paper filler, crafted from 100% recyclable materials and suitable for curbside recycling, provides equivalent, if not superior, protection during shipping compared to plastic air pillows.
According to Christian Garcia, an employee based at Amazon's fulfillment center in Bakersfield, California, the paper filler is more user-friendly, and the updated machinery allows staff more room to pack orders efficiently.
Matt Littlejohn, Oceana's senior vice president of strategic initiatives, expressed appreciation for Amazon's strides in reducing plastic packaging. However, he noted that there is more room for improvement and additional actions that the company could undertake.
Littlejohn acknowledged Amazon's progress as a significant step forward. He urged the company to continue building on this momentum by fulfilling its multiyear commitment to phase out plastic in its North American fulfillment centers.
Littlejohn also called for the expansion of these initiatives and the promotion of innovations such as reusable packaging across all regions where Amazon operates.
Amazon investors have supported the firm's efforts to articulate waste reduction strategies. Responding to investor inquiries, Amazon disclosed its global use of single-use plastic for the first time in 2022.
The company reported using 85,916 metric tons of single-use plastic that year, marking an 11.6% reduction from 2021 levels. In October, Amazon shifted away from plastic air pillows at an automated fulfillment center in Ohio.
The company noted that this location provided a valuable testing ground, enabling it to advance its adoption of recycled paper filling swiftly. The transition involved updating machinery and providing employees with training on the operation of new systems and equipment.
The company also highlighted its ongoing efforts to minimize waste, including a campaign to ship items without additional packaging. In 2022, Amazon reported that 11% of all its packages shipped worldwide did not include added delivery packaging. Amazon is embarking on several initiatives to enhance its environmental efforts.
One such initiative involves collaborating with Glacier, an artificial intelligence and robotics company, to pilot new technology. This partnership includes AI-powered robots designed to automate the sorting of recyclables and gather real-time data on recycling streams for various businesses.
Additionally, Amazon is teaming up with the US Department of Energy to develop new materials and expand recycling programs. These partnerships aim to bolster Amazon's commitment to sustainability through innovative technological advancements and strategic governmental collaborations.
