Amazon Reduces Plastic Use in North America

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amazon today announced that it has replaced 95% of plastic air cushions in North American delivery boxes with 100% recycled paper fillers, which the company says means it is expected to “ Nearly 15 billion plastic airbags will be avoided annually.” The decision is part of Amazon’s “multi-year effort to remove plastic delivery packaging from its North American fulfillment centers.” This announcement follows years of campaigns by Oceana and its allies to reduce the use of plastic packaging, including publishing reports on Amazon’s plastic packaging waste footprint, conducting off-site campaigns, meeting with company representatives and advocating for shareholder resolutions.

In response, Oceana released the following statement from Matt Littlejohn, Oceana’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives:

“As the world’s dominant e-commerce company, Amazon’s actions to reduce plastic packaging are good news for the oceans and the company’s customers.

“In 2020, as e-commerce sales surged amid the global pandemic, Oceana and our allies decided to urge Amazon to reduce its massive use of plastic packaging. Now, four years later, Amazon has announced that it is effectively phasing out plastic airbags in North America, including the United States (its largest market), Canada and Mexico – these markets account for more than 70% of Amazon’s sales. Oceana’s latest report shows that in 2022, protective packaging, including plastic airbags, accounted for more than one-third of all plastic packaging in e-commerce globally. Plastic airbags are made from the most common form of plastic marine debris in coastal ocean areas – plastic film – which is also the deadliest type of plastic to large marine animals. Plastic film, unlike its paper counterparts, is not recyclable or compostable. According to a YouGov study, 85% of Amazon customers in the US reported concerns about plastic pollution.

“While this is a significant step forward for the company, Amazon must build on this momentum and fulfill its multi-year commitment to transition its North American fulfillment centers plastic-free. The company should then expand these efforts and also promote innovations such as reusable packaging to move away from single-use packaging everywhere it sells and ships.”

Amazon’s move away from plastic airbags in North America follows the company’s phasing out of plastic airbags in Australia and almost all single-use plastic packaging (including airbags) in India and across Europe. Last year, the company observed that it would use 11.6% less plastic packaging globally in 2022 compared to the previous year.

Oceana is the largest international organization dedicated exclusively to ocean conservation. Oceana is restoring abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control a quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With over 300 victories that have stopped overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of endangered species such as turtles, whales and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means 1 billion people will be able to enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org learn more.