Amazon is making a significant stride towards reducing plastic waste by eliminating plastic air pillows from their North American packaging by the end of 2024. This move represents their largest plastic reduction effort in the region to date, removing an estimated 15 billion plastic pillows annually. The company has already transitioned 95% of their packaging to recycled paper filler, a more sustainable and recyclable alternative.
This decision comes after years of pressure from environmental groups and employees urging Amazon to lessen its environmental impact. Plastic pollution is a major global concern, with only 9% of plastic worldwide getting recycled. Landfills are overflowing with plastic waste, harming ecosystems and wildlife.
Amazon’s commitment extends beyond North America. They previously pledged to remove plastic air pillows in Europe in 2022. Considering the sheer volume of packages Amazon ships daily (20 million across 19 countries), any reduction in plastic use is substantial.
The transition away from plastic air pillows involved extensive planning and execution. Amazon first piloted the program at a warehouse in Ohio, allowing them to refine the process and implement changes across hundreds of fulfillment centers. This included modifying machinery and retraining employees.
Innovation also plays a key role in Amazon’s sustainability efforts. They utilize artificial intelligence to optimize packaging, saving an estimated 500,000 tons of packaging materials annually – equivalent to the weight of thousands of airplanes!
Amazon’s move away from plastic air pillows is a welcome step towards a more sustainable future. It demonstrates the power of collaboration between businesses and environmental advocates to tackle pressing environmental issues.
