Our customers want right-sized, recyclable packaging that minimizes waste and ensures damage-free delivery. As we work to eliminate unnecessary packaging, we’re optimizing the type, material, and weight of additional packaging when it’s needed to deliver products safely. We’re also increasing the recyclability of our packaging to make recycling easy for our customers.
16.4%reduction in single-use plastic delivery packaging globally in 2024
16.4%
4.2Mmetric tons of packaging materials avoided since 2015
134Msingle-use plastic bags avoided from automated packaging machines across North America fulfillment centers
Our approach
Amazon delivers millions of packages every day, and we prioritize getting orders into the hands of our customers as quickly, safely, and with the least amount of packaging possible. Using a science-based approach, we strive to provide right-sized, recyclable, and scalable packaging solutions that reduce waste.
Our packaging strategy is guided by ongoing learning and innovation, and rooted in four pillars:
Avoid: We avoid additional packaging whenever possible by shipping products in their original packaging.
Optimize: When we need to use supplemental packaging, we prioritize lighter, right-sized options and use artificial intelligence to identify additional optimization opportunities.
Transform: We prioritize materials that are household recyclable and reduce single-use plastic packaging.
Innovate: We work across the public and private sectors to create and scale more sustainable packaging solutions and improve recycling infrastructure globally.
Machine learning
We use machine learning algorithms to determine the most efficient packaging for each order we fulfill. Machine learning algorithms also help us determine the best fit for orders with multiple items, so we can decrease empty space in boxes. Optimized shipments require less space in the vehicles that deliver packages to our customers, helping reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Eliminating packaging
We strive to keep our packaging lightweight and minimal while ensuring deliveries reach customers without damage.
[01]
Sometimes the best solution is to use what already exists. Through our SIPP program, eligible items are delivered in the original manufacturer’s packaging without additional Amazon packaging. This allows us to avoid unnecessary packaging altogether and reduce the weight of deliveries. We’re expanding this program by identifying, evaluating, and certifying items already packaged in materials suitable for shipping. We also encourage selling partners and vendors to re-engineer packaging to meet SIPP standards.
12%of packages globally shipped without additional Amazon packaging in 2024
~18Munique products certified for SIPP and shipped to customers in 2024
To ensure groceries ordered from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market arrive in good condition, we look for ways to protect products during delivery while minimizing our packaging footprint. For example, daily variable insulation is a practice that tracks and adjusts the amount of insulation packaging used in deliveries in North America to ensure it's used only when temperatures exceed a specific threshold.
1,180metric tons of Amazon Fresh packaging avoided in 2023
1,300metric tons of Whole Foods Market packaging avoided in 2023
Reducing plastics
We're working to reduce our use of plastic for easily recyclable alternatives. We're also working on innovations and solutions to avoid single-use plastics.
Explore global highlights
Europe
In 2023, we announced that 100% of delivery packaging in Europe—the boxes, bags, and envelopes needed to get products to customers—was household recyclable, including for items sold by Amazon and third-party selling partners that use Fulfillment by Amazon. In total, 87 European fulfillment centers have stopped using plastic packaging for deliveries.
India
Since we replaced thin-film single-use plastic packaging material with paper- and cardboard-based packaging across our India fulfillment network in 2019, we have avoided a total of 9,100 metric tons of plastic packaging in the country. In addition, 100% of delivery packaging material is household recyclable in India as of the end of 2023.
Japan
99.5% of delivery packaging material is household recyclable as of the end of 2023. In 2023, we removed plastic shrink-wrap film and replaced plastic cushioning materials, such as air pillows, with paper-based dunnage in Japan, except when packaging fragile items and gift packages. We're also in the process of switching from plastic packaging tape to paper tape.
Brazil
We have significantly reduced the use of dunnage in our shipments. When we still need to secure products during shipping, we use paper-only dunnage, and we continue to increase our use of packaging made with recycled materials.
Egypt
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
Mexico
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
Saudi Arabia
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
United Arab Emirates
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
North America
In North America in 2024, we avoided 134 million plastic bags, and 56% of fulfillment centers in North America did not ship plastic delivery packaging. As a result, we saw a significant year-over-year decrease in the number of shipments that contained single-use plastic delivery packaging in North America, from 65% of shipments in 2023 to 37% in 2024.
Spain
In 2024, we began early-stage testing on bio-based bags made from organic sources with Amazon Fresh in Spain. These bio-based bags have the best attributes of conventional plastic and paper, in that they are easily recyclable, biodegradable, lightweight, and have both water and oxygen barriers. Through this testing, we confirmed that these bio-based bags can be used for several harder-to-recycle, fossil fuel-based plastic applications.
Europe
In 2023, we announced that 100% of delivery packaging in Europe—the boxes, bags, and envelopes needed to get products to customers—was household recyclable, including for items sold by Amazon and third-party selling partners that use Fulfillment by Amazon. In total, 87 European fulfillment centers have stopped using plastic packaging for deliveries.
India
Since we replaced thin-film single-use plastic packaging material with paper- and cardboard-based packaging across our India fulfillment network in 2019, we have avoided a total of 9,100 metric tons of plastic packaging in the country. In addition, 100% of delivery packaging material is household recyclable in India as of the end of 2023.
Japan
99.5% of delivery packaging material is household recyclable as of the end of 2023. In 2023, we removed plastic shrink-wrap film and replaced plastic cushioning materials, such as air pillows, with paper-based dunnage in Japan, except when packaging fragile items and gift packages. We're also in the process of switching from plastic packaging tape to paper tape.
Brazil
We have significantly reduced the use of dunnage in our shipments. When we still need to secure products during shipping, we use paper-only dunnage, and we continue to increase our use of packaging made with recycled materials.
Egypt
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
Mexico
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
Saudi Arabia
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
United Arab Emirates
We stopped using dunnage, including air pillows, in most boxes. When we do still need to use dunnage to secure products during shipping, we’re increasing our use of packaging made with recycled materials. For larger shipments that require dunnage, we are working toward replacing air pillows with paper alternatives.
North America
In North America in 2024, we avoided 134 million plastic bags, and 56% of fulfillment centers in North America did not ship plastic delivery packaging. As a result, we saw a significant year-over-year decrease in the number of shipments that contained single-use plastic delivery packaging in North America, from 65% of shipments in 2023 to 37% in 2024.
Spain
In 2024, we began early-stage testing on bio-based bags made from organic sources with Amazon Fresh in Spain. These bio-based bags have the best attributes of conventional plastic and paper, in that they are easily recyclable, biodegradable, lightweight, and have both water and oxygen barriers. Through this testing, we confirmed that these bio-based bags can be used for several harder-to-recycle, fossil fuel-based plastic applications.
Improving recyclability
We’re innovating packaging materials for easy customer recycling, and phasing out padded bags containing plastics in favor of recyclable alternatives. We partner with industry peers and expert organizations, such as the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, to improve recycling infrastructure.
99.7%
of mixed-material mailers, which contain both plastic and paper, replaced with recyclable paper alternatives in the U.S and Canada
100%
of packaging material in Europe and India is household recyclable
100%
of outbound plastic delivery packaging was replaced with 100% household-recyclable paper filler at Amazon’s first U.S. automated fulfillment center, in Euclid, Ohio
Our strategy to optimize and increase the recyclability of packaging extends to our devices. We remain committed to using recyclable device packaging and to inventing recyclable solutions for heavier items that properly protect the device while maintaining our high bar for quality.
Across the globe, we continue to find ways to reduce our packaging, while making the materials we use easier to recycle. Here’s a look at our progress so far.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
