“Amazon’s Eco-Friendly Move: Swapping Plastic for Paper in Delivery Boxes”

Amazon has taken a significant step towards reducing its plastic waste by replacing single-use plastic air pillows with recycled paper in 95 percent of its delivery boxes in North America. The company plans to fully switch to paper by the 2024 holiday retail season, cutting an estimated 15 billion plastic cushions annually.

This move follows a similar elimination process in Europe in the summer of 2022 and is part of Amazon’s broader efforts to reduce its plastic footprint. Approximately 40 percent of Amazon orders are shipped in boxes with these air pillows. While the company has already cut 37,150 tons of plastic packaging since 2020, it still used 85,916 tons of single-use plastic in 2022.

Eliminating the air pillows represents Amazon’s largest plastic reduction initiative to date. The company is also phasing out single-use plastics across its global delivery network and has eliminated extra packaging by shipping about 11 percent of items in their original boxes. Additionally, Amazon is transitioning from plastic to paper envelopes, a process that began earlier this year.

The decision to switch from plastic air pillows to recycled paper is not only environmentally friendly but also addresses the challenges associated with recycling the pillows. Used air pillows are difficult to recycle and often jam sorters, making them inefficient in the recycling process. Paper and other fiber products are seen as suitable alternatives by experts.

In addition to being more recyclable, paper is also a better shock absorber than plastic air pillows. Paper absorbs drops and stresses more effectively, filling “crumple zones” and absorbing energy from impacts. This change in packaging materials reflects a shift towards more sustainable and efficient packaging practices in the e-commerce industry.

Amazon tested the new packaging materials and processes at its innovation center near its Seattle headquarters and at its fulfillment center in Cleveland. The company replaced the feeders for plastic air pillows with canisters that dispense paper, resulting in a quicker and more ergonomic process. These changes were part of regular capital expenditures across Amazon’s facilities.

Overall, Amazon’s decision to replace plastic air pillows with recycled paper demonstrates the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and implementing more sustainable packaging practices. This shift not only benefits the environment but also sets a precedent for other e-commerce companies to follow suit in reducing plastic waste.