Amazon is scaling up its efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainable packaging, reporting significant progress across its global operations. Since 2015, the company has avoided more than 4.2 million metric tons of packaging, the equivalent weight of over 480 Seattle Space Needles. In 2024 alone, Amazon reduced plastic packaging by 16.4% worldwide and shipped 12% of its orders without any additional packaging. Programs like Ships in Product Packaging—which certifies items to be delivered safely in their original manufacturer’s packaging—have expanded to millions of products across North America and Europe, cutting down on unnecessary boxes and fillers while improving truck space efficiency.
Beyond removing excess packaging, Amazon is prioritizing paper-based alternatives designed for curbside recycling. Plastic air pillows have been phased out from its fulfillment centers worldwide, replaced by paper filler made from 100% recycled content. In Europe, these efforts helped eliminate more than 1 billion single-use plastic bags since 2019, while North America saw 134 million fewer plastic delivery bags in 2024 thanks to new automated machines that produce made-to-fit paper bags. The company continues to invest in these innovations with the goal of reducing its environmental footprint, while proving that global scale can also drive measurable gains for sustainability.