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
-
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 KothaAmazon partners with the Amader Kotha Helpline to provide workers in the ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh with a platform to voice their concerns related to labor, safety, and other issues. Through the helpline, Amazon gains direct feedback from workers in our supply chain to help us improve working conditions. -
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. -
amforiAmazon works with 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. We accept amfori’s Business Social Compliance Initiative (amfori BSCI) audits as part of our supplier due diligence program. -
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 InstituteAmazon partners with Better Buying, a leading global initiative committed to leveraging supplier data to help drive lasting improvements in global supply chains. Better Buying’s cloud-based platform enables suppliers to anonymously rate the purchasing practices of their buyers and identify which practices the buyer needs to improve. Brands and retailers can then use these data-driven insights to partner with their suppliers to continuously improve, measure progress year over year, and achieve mutually beneficial sustainability outcomes. -
Better CottonAmazon is a member of Better Cotton to support our transition to sourcing more sustainable cotton within Amazon-owned Private Brand apparel products. -
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 BSR, a sustainable business network and consultancy focused on creating a world in which all people can thrive on a healthy planet. We participate in various BSR collaborative initiatives, including Business Alliance to Scale Climate Solutions, Tech Against Trafficking, Global Business Coalition Against Trafficking, Sustainable Production Alliance, HERproject and the Human Rights Working Group. -
BSR HERprojectAmazon partners with BSR’s HERproject, a collaborative initiative that strives to empower low-income women working in global supply chains. Through our participation in HERproject, we help increase the well-being, confidence, and economic potential of women and men in China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India. -
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 ServicesAmazon partners with Catalyst Management Services (CMS), a social investment specialist group, to support suppliers and workers in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this partnership, we help factories establish crisis response plans and provide medical hotlines for workers and their families. -
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 works with the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) on a multi-year strategy to advance gender equity across global supply chains. Amazon is also part of ICRW’s Gender Equity Worker Engagement Group (GEWEG) to co-finance harmonized, gender-responsive worker voice and employee engagement tools, including a comprehensive set of e-learning modules for suppliers on gender equity. The GEWEG initiative helps member companies understand and address challenges women face and advance their well-being across supply chains. -
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 non-profit organization 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 our support and commitments to workers, suppliers, and recruitment agencies in our 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. -
NestAmazon partners with Nest, a non-profit organization supporting the growth and development of the global artisan sector to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Through their Ethical Handcraft program, which protects the rights of handworkers in the informal sector, and a host of artisan and maker business development programs, Nest is bringing radical transparency and opportunity to the global handworker economy. Amazon serves on the Nest Coalition. -
Open Supply HubAmazon promotes supply chain transparency by supporting innovation and collaboration around open supply chain data. We supported the Open Apparel Registry’s expansion into global retail supply chains and the creation of Open Supply Hub (OS Hub). OS Hub is an accessible, collaborative, supply chain mapping platform that is used and populated by stakeholders across sectors and supply chains. It enables interoperability between datasets and provides a platform for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to transparency by sharing data on a central repository that is accessible to all. We also contributed our supplier list across product categories at the launch of OS Hub in November 2022 alongside more than 600 contributors, including brands and retailers, certification schemes, civil society organizations, multi-stakeholder initiatives, and more. -
PATHAmazon partners with PATH, a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. Our work with PATH helps suppliers in Vietnam build their capacity in prevention and response to COVID-19 and other future crises. PATH provides training for workers, along with mentoring and coaching for managers; supports occupational and mental health care; and equips workers with online tools and resources for long-term impact. -
PolarisIn the U.S., Amazon supports Polaris, a nonprofit leading social justice movement working to address sex and labor trafficking. AWS delivers financial and technical support to enhance Polaris’s data collection and improve trafficking identification and prevention. -
Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals TradeAmazon joined the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA) in 2020 and became a member of the PPA’s Governance Committee in 2022. The PPA is a multi-stakeholder initiative working to promote ethically and economically sound minerals supply chains, due diligence systems, and local governance systems that uphold human rights and labor rights, support environmental responsibility, eliminate links to armed conflict and corruption, and maximize benefits to the communities where minerals are produced. -
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 ChainsAmazon 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. The Resilience Fund was established by BSR, the UN Foundation, and Women Win, in partnership with corporate investors. It aims to raise $10 million to make strategic, long-term investments in women’s economic resilience, health, and well-being and has committed more than $2.5 million in grants to organizations in South and Southeast Asia. -
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 InitiativeAmazon is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), an initiative of the RBA, which provides companies with tools and resources to make sourcing decisions that improve regulatory compliance and support responsible sourcing globally. We participate in RMI working groups devoted to smelter engagement. -
Responsible Sourcing NetworkAmazon sponsors and participates in the Responsible Sourcing Network initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced. YESS works to provide training to, and manage the assessment of, spinners and fabric mills to identify and address forced labor in cotton production. In 2022, YESS released its first Standard for Fabric Mills and updated its Standard for Spinning Mills, enhancing efforts to improve cotton supply chain due diligence. -
SedexAmazon is a member of Sedex, a global membership organization and solutions provider that empowers companies to build responsible supply chains. Sedex provides businesses with a comprehensive data platform, practical tools, and resources to operate ethically, source responsibly, and work with their suppliers to create fair working conditions for the people who make their products and services. We accept Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA) audits as part of our Responsible Sourcing Program. -
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 is part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a global multi-stakeholder nonprofit alliance for the consumer goods industry. It’s made up of more than 250 leading brands, retailers, suppliers, service providers, trade associations, nonprofits, NGOs, and academic institutions in apparel, footwear, and textiles working to reduce environmental impact and promote social justice throughout the global value chain. -
Sustaining Competitive and Responsible EnterprisesAmazon works with the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) program, which is focused on improving productivity and health and safe working environment in small and medium-sized manufacturers. -
SwastiAmazon partners with Swasti, a global public health non-profit committed to ensuring access to quality health care for workers in marginalized communities. With Amazon’s support, Swasti in India established a worker helpline and health protocols for workers returning to work after COVID-19. We also partnered to deliver critical mental health, health care, and social support to workers, their families, and communities. -
Tech Against TraffickingTech Against Trafficking is a coalition of companies collaborating with global experts to help eradicate human trafficking using technology. Amazon is a member of the Tech Against Trafficking steering committee and has leveraged the expertise and resources of AWS to help scale tech solutions across the anti-trafficking 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 BusinessAmazon is a member of the Centre for Child Rights and Business (The Centre). In 2021, we committed to support the Centre’s Joint Action Pledge to strengthen the protection of children’s rights and accelerate action to address child labor in global supply chains. 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 builds technology to defend children from sexual abuse and leverages AWS machine learning tools in their Spotlight and Safer products. Safer is also made available to AWS customers to enable them to identify and address potential child sexual abuse material in their own services and resources -
Truckers Against TraffickingAmazon is an official corporate sponsor of Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), an organization that seeks to educate, equip, and mobilize members of the transportation and energy industries to combat human trafficking. -
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.
