US e-commerce giant Amazon has rolled out a new packaging design for its electronic devices, boasting that it is 100% recyclable.
The revamped packaging, which began distribution this October, marks a departure from traditional plastic wraps and laminations in favour of a water-based coating that ensures the box remains intact during shipping.
The interior of the box has also seen a transformation, with Amazon substituting plastic bags with paper-based wraps that are conducive to paper recycling processes.
This shift aligns with the company’s goal to decarbonise its transportation network and adhere to The Climate Pledge, aiming for net-zero carbon by 2040.
Amazon has also optimised its packaging to be more compact, enabling increased efficiency in transporting more products per pallet.
The company is also transitioning towards utilising ocean shipping over air transport, noting that the former can reduce emissions by an average of 95%.
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Meanwhile, the packaging for Amazon’s Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV products has been redesigned to include more recycled fibre and use less ink.
Amazon noted that on average, the new packaging contains 30% more recycled fibre, cutting down the reliance on fresh tree-based and bleached fibres.
With 98% of the materials now used in Amazon’s packaging being wood fibre-based, the company is making strides in sustainability.
The new packaging design uses 60% less ink and features a brown kraft appearance, as Amazon has ceased bleaching its boxes. A tactile QR code intends to provide customers with additional product information.
In a further effort to reduce plastic waste, Amazon has eliminated the use of plastic air pillows in its global fulfilment centres, preventing the use of nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows each year.
In October this year, RE-ZIP, a Danish software company, launched a reusable packaging trial with Amazon in five European countries.
