Sustainability Efforts Take Center Stage at Amazon

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, companies are under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. One such company is Amazon, which has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint over the years. In a recent development, Amazon has unveiled new packaging for its devices that uses more recycled fiber and less ink, marking another milestone in the company’s sustainability journey.

New Packaging Design

The new packaging design features a brown kraft box design, which should be familiar to Amazon customers. The packaging has undergone significant changes, including:

  • Removal of plastic wrapping: Outer plastic wraps and laminations have been replaced with water-based coating to protect boxes during shipping.
  • Recyclable paper-based wraps: Inside the box, recyclable paper-based wraps are now used to protect devices from damage.

Sustainable Materials

The new packaging introduces, on average, 30% more recycled fiber content, reducing reliance on virgin tree-based and bleached fibers. Additionally, there is a significant reduction in ink usage, with a staggering 60% less ink used compared to the previous design. This change not only reduces the environmental impact of production but also gives the unbleached boxes their distinctive brown appearance.

Reducing Paper Inside

The new packaging features QR codes that allow customers to scan and access quick-start and detailed setup instructions. Select packaging will also feature tactile markings to help blind and low-vision customers find the code.

Components from inside a Fire TV package

[Image description: A photo of components from inside a Fire TV package]

Shipping Changes

In addition to the packaging changes, Amazon is tweaking its shipping practices to reduce emissions. For example:

  • Compact device boxing: The company looks for ways to make device boxing more compact to increase the number of products that can fit on a pallet.
  • Shipping via ocean rather than air: This change has been implemented to lower emissions associated with transportation.

Progress and Goals

Since 2015, Amazon has reduced its average per-shipment packaging weight by 43% and avoided over 3 million metric tons of packaging. This year alone, the company removed plastic air pillows from delivery packaging at its global fulfillment centers, avoiding nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows annually.

Amazon’s Commitment to Sustainability

Amazon is committed to reducing its vast carbon emissions in service of meeting The Climate Pledge and reaching net-zero carbon by 2040. This summer, the company reported that its carbon footprint shrank by 3% last year, marking its second straight year of decline. Amazon’s annual sustainability report highlighted clean energy accomplishments and its growing electric delivery fleet while acknowledging the challenges ahead.

Challenges Ahead

As companies like Amazon push forward with ambitious climate targets, they will inevitably face surging energy demands created by the increased use of artificial intelligence and tools that incorporate it.

Conclusion

Amazon’s new packaging design is a significant step towards reducing plastic, ink, and bleach use. As the world continues to grapple with sustainability challenges, companies must adopt innovative solutions to minimize their environmental impact. By prioritizing sustainable practices and making incremental changes, we can work towards creating a more environmentally conscious future.

References

  • Amazon Press Release: Amazon Unveils New Packaging for Devices, Reduces Plastic, Ink, and Bleach Use
  • GeekWire Article: Amazon Unveils New Packaging for Devices, Reducing Plastic, Ink, and Bleach Use