Amazon has made a big change to how it ships packages
The inflatable plastic pillows are officially a thing of the past, replaced by paper-based padding that can be recycled
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The inflatable plastic pillows are officially a thing of the past, replaced by paper-based padding that can be recycled
Amazon's Commitment to Reducing Plastic Packaging
In recent years, Amazon has made a commitment to reduce its plastic packaging and increase its use of sustainable materials. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its plastic use and has taken steps to achieve these goals.
In 2020, Amazon announced that it would eliminate plastic air pillows from its global network of fulfillment centers. The company had already replaced 95% of its air pillows across North America with paper filler, and had eliminated plastic air pillows in Australia and Europe.
In June 2022, Amazon announced that it would work "toward full removal" of plastic air pillows from North America by the end of the year. The company stated that it had already replaced 95% of its air pillows across the continent with paper filler.
Challenges in Reducing Plastic Packaging
Despite Amazon's efforts to reduce plastic packaging, the company still faces significant challenges in doing so. One of the main challenges is the scale of its operations. Amazon operates in 21 countries and ships to many more, which means that it uses a vast amount of packaging materials.
Amazon also faces significant costs associated with reducing its plastic use. The company has stated that it will need to invest in new equipment and processes to replace its current plastic packaging with sustainable alternatives.
Additionally, Amazon's packaging materials are often not recyclable, which makes it difficult for the company to recycle its waste. The company's plastic film, for example, is not recyclable and is often sent to landfills and incinerators.
Oceana's Criticism of Amazon's Plastic Use
Oceana, a nonprofit ocean advocacy group, has been critical of Amazon's plastic use. The group has estimated that Amazon generates 208 million pounds of plastic packaging trash in the United States each year, which is about 10% more than the previous year.
Oceana has also criticized Amazon's use of plastic film, which is not recyclable and is often sent to landfills and incinerators. The group has called on Amazon to strengthen its plastic-reduction promises and to scale up its use of reusable alternatives.
Amazon's Response to Criticism
Amazon has responded to criticism of its plastic use by pointing to its efforts to reduce its plastic packaging. The company has stated that it is committed to reducing its plastic use and is working to develop new sustainable packaging materials.
However, Amazon's response has been criticized by Oceana and other environmental groups. The company's efforts to reduce its plastic packaging have been seen as too slow and too little, and have not gone far enough to address the scale and scope of its plastic use.
What's Next for Amazon's Plastic Reduction Efforts?
In the coming months, Amazon is expected to take further steps to reduce its plastic packaging. The company has hinted at phasing out padded bags containing plastics, which are a common type of plastic packaging used by the company.
Amazon has also stated that it is working to reduce its use of single-use plastic packaging in favor of household-recyclable alternatives. However, it is unclear what this means in practice, and whether the company will be able to achieve its goals.
Overall, Amazon's efforts to reduce plastic packaging are significant, but the company still faces significant challenges in doing so. It remains to be seen whether Amazon will be able to achieve its goals and reduce its plastic packaging to the extent that it needs to.
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