Amazon discontinues the use of small plastic air pillows in packaging.
E-commerce giant Amazon declares they are transporting 15 billion plastic cushions yearly, a figure they aim to reduce substantially through their largest plastic packaging reduction campaign in North America. Currently, plastic pillows have been eliminated in 95% of their shipments, and the goal is to completely phase them out by year-end.
In their place, a new paper filler sourced entirely from recycled content will be utilized, providing the same or even superior protection for products.
This announcement precedes Prime Day, the annual shopping extravaganza in July, where the majority of purchases for this event will be devoid of plastic air pillows.
Amazon has already eliminated plastic cushions in various countries, including Australia, India, and multiple European nations. Consequently, the company's plastic usage diminished by around 12% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Accumulation of single-use plastic waste remains a significant environmental issue, with a recent report revealing an escalation in production despite efforts towards sustainability. Plastic is a concern due to its primary components being hazardous polymers derived from fossil fuels.
Oceana, a advocacy group consistently vocal about Amazon's plastic usage, considers this shift a "notable advancement"; however, they emphasize that Amazon "needs to further capitalize on this progress and accomplish their multi-year pledge to transition their North American fulfillment centers away from plastic."
"Once accomplished, the company should extend these efforts and also stimulate innovations such as reusable packaging to eliminate single-use packaging in all locations where they sell and ship," Matt Littlejohn, Oceana's senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives, stated.
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Amazon's decision to phase out plastic air pillows in their shipments will lead to a significant reduction in plastic usage during their annual shopping event, Prime Day.
With the successful elimination of plastic pillows in various countries, Amazon is now focusing on transitioning their North American fulfillment centers away from plastic, as urged by environmental advocacy groups like Oceana.
