Packaging innovation
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 therecyclability of our packaging to make recycling easy for our customers.
Learn how to recycle your Amazon packaging , opens in a new tab
Progress
9%decrease in averagesingle-use plastic packaging weight per shipment across our global operations network compared to 2022
43%reduction in average per-shipment packaging weight in the U.S., Canada, and the EU since 2015
80K+metric tons of single-use plastic packaging avoided globally since 2020
Our approach
We continually work to reinvent and simplify our packaging options using a science-based approach that combines lab testing,machine learning,materials science, and manufacturing partnerships. Our first priority is to eliminate unnecessary packaging altogether by partnering with suppliers and manufacturers to avoid the need for additional Amazon packaging.
When additional packaging is required, we optimize with lighter, right-sized options that reduce waste and carbon, while ensuring products arrive safely. We strive to use materials that are curbside recyclable and have a lower carbon footprint. We also partner with industry peers to create and scale solutions across the packagingsupply chain.
Machine learning
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Eliminating packaging
We strive to keep our packaging lightweight and minimal while ensuring deliveries reach customers without damage.
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- 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 2023
- ~12Mproducts qualified for the Ships in Product Packaging program in 2023
- 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. We anticipate that all sites in Japan will participate in this program by the end of 2024. 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.
United States and Canada
In 2023, we expanded our use of household-recyclable paper-padded bags across the U.S. and Canada, replacing 99.7% of padded bags containing both plastic and paper. This change helped us avoid nearly 41,600 metric tons of single-use plastic since 2020. We also transitioned 13 fulfillment centers from plastic to paper for dunnage, the durable packing material used to protect goods during shipping.
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. We anticipate that all sites in Japan will participate in this program by the end of 2024. 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.
United States and Canada
In 2023, we expanded our use of household-recyclable paper-padded bags across the U.S. and Canada, replacing 99.7% of padded bags containing both plastic and paper. This change helped us avoid nearly 41,600 metric tons of single-use plastic since 2020. We also transitioned 13 fulfillment centers from plastic to paper for dunnage, the durable packing material used to protect goods during shipping.
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
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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
Learn how to recycle your Amazon packaging
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Reducing device packaging
Our 2023 delivery packaging breakdown
12%
Ships in Product Packaging
50%
flexible packaging (padded and unpadded)
38%
corrugated boxes
Learn more about how we’re eliminating waste by reusing, repairing, and recycling.
Explore reducing waste & packaging
Discover the latest in packaging
December 18, 2024 3 min
Introducing Amazon’s all-new device packaging
Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV product packaging gets an all-new look using more recycled fiber and less ink.
December 10, 2024 2 min
Amazon switches single-use plastic delivery bags to recyclable paper bags and envelopes in Australia
Amazon stops packing products in single-use plastic delivery bags in its Australian distribution network
October 09, 2024 4 min
How Amazon is improving packaging and boosting sustainability
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.
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