Partnerships
Partnerships enhance our impact and support sustainability efforts beyond Amazon. We collaborate with credible, knowledgeable, and innovative industry partners around the world who share our vision.
our progress
2021 Partnership Highlights
Nature-Based Solutions
We helped to create the LEAF Coalition, a global initiative of governments and leading companies to protect the world’s tropical rainforests.
Sustainable Transport
We became a founding private sector member of the First Movers Coalition to lead decarbonization of the maritime shipping industry.
Gender Equity
Amazon made a $1 million contribution to the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains to drive local, women-led solutions to some of the toughest problems facing women in global value chains.
Responsible Sourcing
We began sponsoring and participating in Responsible Sourcing Network’s initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced, which works to address forced labor in the cotton value chain.
Partnerships Helping Us Get to Net-Zero Carbon
Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagements
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Advanced Energy Buyers GroupAmazon is a founding member of the Advanced Energy Buyers Group, a coalition of leading advanced energy purchasers engaging on policies to unlock opportunities for customers to access affordable, reliable, clean, and innovative energy options. -
Advanced Energy EconomyAmazon joined Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) to promote education, analysis, and policy advocacy for clean energy and sustainable transportation. As a nonprofit association of clean energy and transportation businesses, AEE publishes reports, brings together stakeholders, and advocates for advanced energy policies with state and federal policymakers on issues related to electric vehicles, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the smart grid. -
Amader KothaIn 2020, Amazon began working with the Amader Kotha Helpline, which provides workers with a mechanism to report and resolve safety and other concerns in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh. The Helpline was initially established as a project of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety following the Rana Plaza tragedy. In 2018, the Helpline became an independent initiative available to all garment workers with the support of factories and brands. -
American Council on Renewable EnergyAmazon joined the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), a national nonprofit that unites finance, policy, and technology to accelerate the transition to a renewable energy economy. ACORE convenes thought leadership forums and creates energy industry partnerships and policy positions to communicate the economic, security, and environmental benefits of renewable energy to stakeholders and policymakers. -
amforiIn 2018, Amazon became a member of amfori, a leading global business association for open and sustainable trade. Amfori brings together over 2,400 retailers, importers, brands, and associations from over 40 countries to drive social performance and improvements across global supply chains. -
Article One AdvisorsSince 2020, Amazon has partnered with Article One Advisors, an expert human rights consulting firm, to conduct saliency and human rights impact assessments and embed human rights due diligence throughout Amazon’s business. -
Better Buying InstituteIn 2019, Amazon began partnering with the Better Buying Institute as part of their commitment to reimagining supply chain sustainability and leveraging data to strengthen supplier-buyer partnerships and improve purchasing practices. Better Buying’s cloud-based platform enables suppliers to anonymously rate the purchasing practices of their buyers, providing data-driven insights which can be used by retailers, brands, and suppliers to continually improve purchasing practices, and achieve mutually beneficial sustainability outcomes. -
Better CottonTo support the transition to sourcing more-sustainable cotton for Amazon Private Brands apparel products, in 2019 Amazon joined Better Cotton, a global nonprofit and the largest cotton sustainability program in the world. Better Cotton’s mission is to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. In 2021, we also joined Better Cotton’s Retailer and Brand Advisory Panel on Traceability. -
Bipartisan Policy CenterAmazon partners with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to accelerate our work in support of climate and clean energy policy solutions, with a focus on technology innovation, transportation decarbonization, and nature-based solutions. In helping develop an agenda that drives the nation toward an ambitious clean energy transition, BPC plays an active role in shaping the federal energy conversation and developing climate and energy policies that can reduce emissions, support American workers and consumers, and position the economy for economic strength in the decades ahead. -
Building TransparencyAmazon has been a pilot sponsor and funding partner to Building Transparency since 2020, to support industry shifts in embodied carbon data systems, knowledge, tracking, and industry movement. Amazon participates in this group to shape building industry standards for embodied carbon and calculation tools for the building industry. Building Transparency’s core mission is to provide the open access data and tools necessary to enable broad and swift action across the building industry in addressing embodied carbon’s role in climate change. -
Business Alliance to Scale Climate SolutionsAmazon is a founding member and participates in the Business Alliance to Scale Climate Solutions (BASCS). BASCS is a neutral, inclusive, and business-driven collaboration dedicated to increasing the volume and impact of corporate carbon credit purchases and other climate solutions funding, supported by nongovernmental and intergovernmental partners and experts. -
Business for Social ResponsibilityAmazon is a member of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), an organization of sustainable business experts working with its global network of leading companies to build a just and sustainable world. In 2021, Amazon participated in BSR initiatives such as Future of Fuels (a collaboration with a mission to build demand and promote adoption of clean energy technology for trucking), Clean Cargo Working Group (an initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of global goods transportation), and Tech Against Trafficking (a coalition of technology companies collaborating with global experts to help eradicate human trafficking using technology). -
BSR HERprojectIn 2019, Amazon began partnering with BSR’s HERproject, an initiative that brings together global brands, their suppliers, and local partners to create and implement workplace-based interventions on health, financial inclusion, and gender equality. Through our partnership with HERproject, we engage suppliers in China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India. As of December 2021, we had reached 10,000 women with HERproject programming, including training on health and financial skills, and building the capacity of workers and factory management to combat gender-based discrimination in the workplace. -
Carbon Leadership ForumSince 2020, Amazon has sponsored the Carbon Leadership Forum, an industry-academic collaboration hosted at the University of Washington that is dedicated to decarbonizing the built environment. -
Cargo Owners for Zero Emission VesselsAmazon has been collaborating with the Aspen Institute’s Shipping Decarbonization Initiative since 2020. Aspen and Amazon launched Cargo Owners for Zero Emission Vessels (coZEV) in 2021 to drive demand for decarbonized maritime shipping. coZEV signatories sign on to an ambition statement establishing a 2040 decarbonization timeline for their cargo, with the goal of industrywide decarbonization by 2050. coZEV will release a roadmap to achieving its 2040 decarbonization target in 2022. Aspen, Amazon, and other coZEV signatories engage across the value chain for zero-carbon-ready trade routes and support maritime projects which reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Aspen also identifies opportunities for cargo owners to engage in decarbonization policy, an influential factor in energy transition. Amazon is an integral thought partner to Aspen, advising on the challenges and opportunities in decarbonized shipping while representing the needs of cargo owners. -
Catalyst Management ServicesIn 2021, Amazon made a $1.65 million investment and collaborated with Catalyst Management Services, a social impact organization, and PATH, a global public health nonprofit, to facilitate vaccine assistance, provide a medical hotline for workers and their families, and assist factories in establishing crisis response plans. This investment will help provide an estimated 54,000 workers with access to crisis response resources, with a focus on Asia’s most COVID-vulnerable regions. -
Center for Climate and Energy SolutionsAmazon joined the Business Environmental Leadership Council at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) to work toward practical solutions to the world’s climate and energy challenges. C2ES is an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit working to advance strong policy and action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. In 2020, Amazon signed a statement from C2ES calling on the Biden administration and new Congress to seek ambitious and durable climate solutions. -
City Harvest LondonIn the UK, Amazon partners with City Harvest London to put surplus food to use in a sustainable way. City Harvest collects nutritious surplus food from supermarkets, restaurants, manufacturers, and other food businesses, and distributes it to community programs that serve meals to vulnerable people. -
Closed Loop Partners, Closed Loop Infrastructure FundAmazon invested $10 million in the Closed Loop Infrastructure Fund to advance the recovery of recyclable materials in the U.S. Through this investment, Amazon aims to increase product and packaging recycling and ensure that material gets back into the manufacturing supply chain. By 2030, our investment in the Closed Loop Infrastructure Fund aims to have kept a total of 10 million tons of recyclable material in circulation and avoided 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. -
Ellen MacArthur FoundationAmazon joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network as a Member in 2020 as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce the amount of finite and virgin materials used and waste created by products, services, and operations across Amazon, and to share success stories and insights across industries. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature. The Foundation works with, and inspires, business, academia, policymakers, and institutions to mobilize systems solutions at scale, globally. -
Feeding AmericaAmazon partners with Feeding America to direct our surplus inventory to communities in need. Feeding America is a U.S. network of food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies that works alongside Amazon’s vast network to strategically partner nonprofit members with Amazon facilities to maximize the impact of these donations. -
Global OptimismGlobal Optimism believes humanity has the capacity and ingenuity to address any challenge—including the climate crisis. Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge with Global Optimism in 2019 on the conviction that global businesses are responsible, accountable, and able to act on the climate crisis. The Climate Pledge is a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon by 2040—10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. -
Good360Good360 partners with socially responsible companies to source highly needed goods and distribute them through their network of diverse nonprofits that support people in need. Amazon is one of the biggest suppliers of donations to Good360, helping to provide items to low-income households, foster families, individuals with special needs or disabilities, seniors, veterans, immigrants, and more. -
Green Chemistry & Commerce CouncilAmazon is a member of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3), a multistakeholder collaborative that drives the commercial adoption of green chemistry by catalyzing and guiding action across all industries, sectors, and supply chains. -
In Kind DirectAmazon is a long-term partner of In Kind Direct, a charity working across the UK, France, and Germany to broker product giving among the members of its network. Through this partnership, we have donated products including toys, shoes, clothing, and household items. -
International Center for Research on Women AdvisorsAmazon worked with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Advisors and The Mara Partners to develop a multiyear strategy to advance gender equity across our global supply chain. -
International Organization for MigrationIn 2020, Amazon partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN organization that supports migrants across the world including those in emergency situations. IOM develops effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration, and is a key source of advice on migration policy and practice. -
Issara InstituteIssara Institute is an independent nonprofit based in Asia and the U.S. tackling issues of human trafficking and forced labor through worker voice, partnership, and innovation. Through Issara’s Strategic Partners Program, Amazon is advancing its support and commitments to workers, suppliers, and recruitment agencies in its own supply chain and the broader ecosystem. -
Japan Climate Leaders’ PartnershipIn 2020, Amazon joined the Japan Climate Leaders’ Partnership (JCLP), a coalition of Japanese companies who hold the firm belief that economic prosperity and sustainability go hand in hand. JCLP is the regional partner in Japan for the global RE100, EP100, and EV100 efforts, and works closely with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Environment, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Amazon supports JCLP’s current efforts around enabling non-FIT corporate renewable power purchase agreements in Japan. -
Leather Working GroupAmazon joined the Leather Working Group to support the transition to more-sustainable leather in Amazon Private Brands apparel products. The Leather Working Group seeks to improve the leather manufacturing industry by creating alignment on environmental priorities, bringing visibility to best practices, and providing suggested guidelines for continual improvement. -
Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance CoalitionAmazon helped drive the creation of the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance (LEAF) Coalition. LEAF’s goal is to halt deforestation by financing large-scale tropical forest protection. In 2021, the Coalition mobilized $1 billion in financing, kicking off the largest ever public-private efforts to protect tropical forests. -
NestIn 2020, Amazon partnered with Nest, a nonprofit supporting the growth and development of the artisan sector to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Through programs that improve worker well-being for those working outside the four-walled factory, Nest is bringing radical transparency and opportunity to the informal handworker economy globally. Amazon is proud to serve on Nest’s Steering Committee. -
Open Apparel RegistryIn 2020, Amazon began contributing lists of our apparel suppliers to the Open Apparel Registry (OAR) to foster brand collaboration and action in the apparel industry. The OAR is a free, open data tool mapping garment facilities worldwide and allocating a unique ID to each, with the goal of opening up supply chain data for the benefit of all. In 2021, Amazon continued to publish our apparel supplier list on the OAR and invested in the OAR’s expansion beyond mapping apparel facilities worldwide to mapping global supply chains more broadly. -
PATHIn 2021, Amazon made an additional $1.65 million investment to collaborate with several organizations and invest directly in suppliers of Amazon-branded products. This investment will help provide an estimated 54,000 workers with access to crisis response resources, with a focus on Asia’s most COVID-vulnerable regions. Through a collaboration with Catalyst Management Services, a social investment specialist group, and PATH, a global public health nonprofit, this commitment will facilitate vaccine assistance, provide a medical hotline for workers and their families, assist factories in establishing crisis response plans, and enhance factories’ prevention and response capabilities, including through training, edutainment, and communication activities. -
PolarisAmazon supports Polaris, a non-profit leading a social justice movement to fight sex and labor trafficking at the massive scale of the problem – 25 million people worldwide deprived of the freedom to choose how they live and work. Through the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, Polaris has responded to more than 73,000 situations of human trafficking since 2007. AWS works with Polaris to infuse cutting-edge technology into its infrastructure to accelerate the development of the largest known U.S. data set on trafficking. With the guidance of survivors, Polaris uses that data to improve the way trafficking is identified, how victims and survivors are assisted, and how communities, businesses and governments can prevent human trafficking by transforming the underlying inequities and oppressions that make it possible. -
Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals TradeAmazon joined the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA) in 2020. The PPA is a multisector initiative among leaders in civil society, government, and industry to support projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the surrounding Great Lakes Region of Central Africa that improve the due diligence and governance systems needed for ethical supply chains. In 2022, Amazon will provide additional funding toward these efforts and participate in working groups devoted to enhancing local data collection. -
RE-Source PlatformTo advocate for issues related to clean energy purchasing, Amazon is a member of the RE-Source Platform. RE-Source is a European alliance of stakeholders representing clean energy buyers and suppliers for corporate renewable energy sourcing. It is the first and only multistakeholder platform in Europe to bring together the interests of both buyers and sellers in order to unlock the potential of new business models, accelerate the transition to affordable renewable energy sources, and help combat climate change. Amazon is a member of the Steering Committee and chairs the Policy Committee. -
Renewable Energy Demand Enhancement Initiative, IndiaAmazon has worked with the Renewable Energy Demand Enhancement (REDE) Initiative since 2020 to further renewable energy adoption in India. Founded in 2018, the REDE Initiative is a corporate renewable energy buyers’ coalition in India. REDE is led by WWF-India in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry, and has 40+ member companies, including a number of Climate Pledge member companies (such as Infosys and Siemens). REDE is engaging with policymakers and regulators at both the state and national level as well as with other civil society and business groups to address barriers that are restricting the uptake of renewable energy. -
Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value ChainsWe made a $1 million contribution to the Resilience Fund for Women in Global Value Chains. The Resilience Fund pools corporate investments to drive local, women-led solutions to some of the toughest problems facing women in global value chains. Established by BSR, the UN Foundation, and Women Win, the Resilience Fund aims to raise at least $10 million to make strategic, long-term investments in women’s economic resilience, health, and well-being. -
Responsible Business AllianceAmazon is a member of the Responsible Business Alliance, a nonprofit coalition of companies committed to supporting the rights and well-being of workers and communities worldwide affected by global supply chains. -
Responsible Labor InitiativeAmazon is a member of the Responsible Labor Initiative, a multi-industry, multistakeholder initiative hosted by the Responsible Business Alliance focused on ensuring that the rights of workers vulnerable to forced labor in global supply chains are consistently respected and promoted. -
Responsible Minerals InitiativeIn 2015, Amazon joined the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the Responsible Business Alliance. Founded in 2008, the RMI has grown into one of the most utilized and respected resources for companies from a range of industries addressing responsible mineral sourcing issues in their supply chains. Amazon participates in RMI working groups devoted to cobalt and smelter engagement. We also contribute to the RMI’s smelter audit fund, which supports tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold smelters undergoing third-party responsible-minerals-sourcing audits. We believe our participation is integral to enhancing minerals due diligence and promoting the certification of smelters in our supply chain. -
Responsible Sourcing NetworkIn 2021, Amazon began sponsoring and participating in Responsible Sourcing Network’s initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced. YESS works to address forced labor in the cotton value chain by providing training to, and managing the assessment of, spinners and fabric mills to identify and address forced labor in cotton production. -
SedexAmazon is a member of Sedex, a global membership organization that empowers companies to implement responsible business practices and policies in their business and supply chain to build responsible supply chains. Sedex provides businesses with the tools, technology, and insights needed to operate ethically, source responsibly, and work with their suppliers to create fair working conditions for the people who make their products and services. -
SolarPower EuropeAmazon joined SolarPower Europe (SPE) to help advance solar energy development across Europe. SPE works to ensure solar-based energy solutions have access to financing and funding across Europe, positioning these solutions with policymakers at the European and national levels, effectively communicating the benefits of solar power, and more. -
StolenYouthAmazon partners with StolenYouth, a Seattle-based organization with the mission to end child sex trafficking in the state of Washington through prevention, connecting trafficked youth to resources and services, and empowering survivors along their path to recovery and a promising future. We support StolenYouth by providing both financial support and goods donations. -
Sustainable Apparel CoalitionAmazon joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), an industrywide group of more than 250 leading apparel and footwear brands, retailers, manufacturers, nongovernmental organizations, academic experts, and government organizations working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of apparel products around the world. We encourage our Amazon-branded suppliers to evaluate their practices using the Coalition’s Higg Index, a tool to help manufacturers measure the social and environmental performance of their facilities. -
Sustaining Competitive and Responsible EnterprisesAmazon works with the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) program. In 2020, we expanded our work with the SCORE program, a lean manufacturing program focused on improving productivity and working conditions in small and medium-sized manufacturers. As of December 2021, we enrolled 50 suppliers based in China, India, and Vietnam into SCORE. -
SwastiAmazon partners with Swasti, a global nonprofit committed to ensuring access to quality health care for workers in marginalized communities. With our support, Swasti set up a worker helpline, developed health protocols for workers to return to work safely, and provided critical mental health, health care, and social entitlement support to workers, their families and their communities. -
Tech Against TraffickingTech Against Trafficking is a coalition of companies collaborating with global experts to help eradicate human trafficking using technology. Amazon sits on the organization’s steering committee and has leveraged the expertise and resources of AWS to help explore and scale the use of technology solutions across the antitrafficking field. -
Textile ExchangeAmazon joined Textile Exchange to support our commitment to sustainable apparel. Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit that works with its members to drive industry transformation in preferred fibers, including recycled materials. Textile Exchange identifies and shares best practices on farming, materials, processing, traceability, and product end-of-life in order to reduce the textile industry’s impact on the world’s water, soil, and air, and the human population. -
The Centre for Child Rights and BusinessIn 2020, Amazon joined The Centre for Child Rights and Business working group to engage with peer brands and identify common challenges, share resources, and implement best practices to make supply chains safer for children, young people, and working migrant parents. The Centre supports businesses to deliver improvements within their supply chains that not only benefit workers, families and children, but also deliver positive business outcomes. -
The Mara PartnersWe worked with International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Advisors and The Mara Partners to develop a multiyear strategy to advance gender equity across our global supply chain. -
The Nature ConservancyAmazon is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to research, identify, design, and implement natural climate solutions to mitigate climate change and other environmental concerns. TNC is a global nonprofit dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Working in 79 countries and territories, TNC engages diverse partners to create science-based, innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. -
The Recycling PartnershipTo improve recycling and solve for circularity in the U.S., Amazon partners with The Recycling Partnership, which mobilizes people, data, and solutions across the value chain to unlock the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and a circular economy. The Recycling Partnership works on the ground with thousands of communities to transform underperforming recycling programs, and partners with companies to achieve packaging circularity, increase access to recycled materials, and meet sustainability commitments. -
ThornThorn, an organization that builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse, leverages AWS architecture and machine learning tools in their Spotlight product. Spotlight’s sophisticated machine learning capabilities save time for investigators by automatically flagging ads likely to represent at-risk children. Investigators can set customized alerts and search Spotlight’s constantly growing database of ads to aid in their investigations. Spotlight has helped identify more than 20,000 child sex trafficking victims. -
Truckers Against TraffickingAmazon is an official corporate sponsor of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking in the trucking industry, and began incorporating TAT training modules into trainings for our internal fleet of drivers to teach them how to identify and respond to potential victims of human trafficking. Since the launch of our partnership, we have trained over 9,000 Amazon transportation associates. -
United States Council for International BusinessAmazon is a member of the United States Council for International Business (USCIB). As the U.S. member of the International Organisation of Employers, USCIB represents American business on the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization and engages with U.S. and international policymakers to support policies that promote respect for human rights under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including on issues of forced labor and human trafficking. -
UnseenAmazon supports the UK-wide Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline operated by Unseen, investing in their efforts to provide immediate and long-term assistance to potential victims of modern slavery and to ensure the Helpline’s continued growth. The Helpline provides direct response and services to potential victims of modern slavery, and helps shape trainings and wider services for vulnerable people. -
U.S. Cotton Trust ProtocolIn 2021, Amazon became a member of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol (USCTP). USCTP helps leverage more-sustainable cotton sourcing with U.S. farmers, combining access to the latest technology for traceable supply chain and environmental data collection. This partnership supports the transition of sourcing more-sustainable cotton for Amazon Private Brands textile products. -
We Mean Business CoalitionThe Climate Pledge and Global Optimism are partnering with the We Mean Business Coalition and several other organizations in the largest effort to date to mobilize the private sector to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. This partnership will demonstrate that corporate leaders can go further and faster on climate action. The Climate Pledge and We Mean Business Coalition also provide resources and support to TED Countdown, Race to Zero, and the Science Based Targets initiative, urging companies to respond to the climate crisis by setting specific, measurable targets. -
World Business Council for Sustainable DevelopmentAmazon is a member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). WBCSD is the premier global CEO-led community of over 200 of the world’s leading sustainable businesses, who are working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net-zero, nature-positive, and more equitable future.
