Amazon Eliminates Plastic Pillows from Packaging: A Big Win for the Environment

Exciting news is coming from Amazon about a significant change in how you’ll receive your deliveries. In a move that’s great for both the environment and customers, Amazon has announced the elimination of nearly all plastic air pillows from its packaging in North America. Instead, they’ll be using paper filler made from 100% recycled content.

According to Pat Lindner, Amazon’s VP of Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging, this change will remove 95% of their plastic air pillows, marking another step in their long-term plan to reduce packaging waste. The new paper filler has already been used for most Prime Day packages this year and has been verified by a third-party engineering lab to be just as effective, if not more, in protecting items during delivery.

The benefits of this switch are immense. Nearly 15 billion plastic pillows will be eliminated annually. Additionally, the paper filler can be easily recycled at home, making it more convenient for consumers compared to popping and disposing of numerous plastic pillows.

Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and a former EPA administrator, explained that most air pillows lack effective recycling programs, making them a challenge for eco-conscious consumers. The switch to paper simplifies the recycling process and reduces the environmental footprint by cutting down on oil usage, pollution, and microplastics.

This change follows a similar move by Walmart earlier this year. Walmart replaced plastic e-commerce mailers with recyclable paper envelopes, eliminating 2,000 tons of single-use plastic. They plan to extend this to all their mailers, including those from marketplace sellers.

Amazon’s commitment to reducing waste doesn’t stop here. Their “Ships in Product Packaging” program, introduced in 2022, ensures that 11% of their deliveries are shipped in their original packaging without additional Amazon materials.

This move by Amazon is a significant step towards a more sustainable future, reducing waste and making recycling easier for everyone.

Source: The Cool Down