WASHINGTON, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Amazon announced
(https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-replaces-plastic-air-
pillows-in-packaging-north-america-us) that it has replaced 95% of the plastic
air pillows from delivery packaging in North America with 100% recycled paper
filler - a move that is, according to the company, expected to "avoid nearly 15
billion plastic air pillows annually." The decision is part of Amazon's "multi-
year effort to remove plastic delivery packaging from North America fulfillment
centers." This announcement follows years of campaigning by Oceana and its
allies for the company to reduce its use of plastic packaging including
releasing reports on Amazon's plastic packaging waste footprint, campaigning
outside the company's headquarters, meeting with company representatives, and
advocating for shareholder resolutions.
In response, Oceana released the following statement from Matt Littlejohn,
Oceana's Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives:
"As the world's dominant e-commerce company, Amazon's action to reduce plastic
packaging is welcome news for the oceans and the company's customers.
"In 2020, when e-commerce sales surged due to the global pandemic, Oceana and
our allies set out to push Amazon to reduce its enormous use of plastic
packaging. Now, four years later, Amazon has announced it has effectively phased
out plastic air pillows in North America, including in the United States (its
largest market), Canada, and Mexico - markets accounting for more than 70% of
Amazon's sales. Oceana's most recent report (https://oceana.org/reports/amazons-
united-states-of-plastic/) found that, in 2022, protective packaging, including
plastic air pillows, accounted for over one-third of all e-commerce plastic
packaging by weight globally. Plastic air pillows are made from the most common
form of marine plastic litter in nearshore ocean areas
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-021-00720-8)- plastic film - which is
also the deadliest type
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346968135_Plastic_pollution_is_killing
_marine_megafauna_but_how_do_we_prioritize_policies_to_reduce_mortality) of
plastic to large marine animals. Plastic film, unlike its paper alternatives, is
not curbside recyclable or compostable. According to research by YouGov, 85% of
Amazon customers in the U.S. reported being concerned about plastic pollution.
"While this is a significant step forward for the company, Amazon needs to build
on this momentum and fulfill its multiyear commitment to transition its North
America fulfillment centers away from plastic. Then, the company should expand
these efforts and also push innovations like reusable packaging to move away
from single-use packaging everywhere it sells and ships."
Amazon's move away from plastic air pillows in North America follows the
company's phasing out of plastic air pillows in Australia, and nearly all
single-use plastic packaging (including air pillows) in India and throughout
Europe. Last year, the company reported using 11.6% less plastic packaging
globally in 2022 compared to the previous year.
Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to
ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by
winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the
world's wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing,
habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened
species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana's campaigns are delivering
results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy
seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed
the world. Visit?Oceana.org (https://Oceana.org)?to learn more.?
Media contacts: Gillian Spolarich, gspolarich@oceana.org
(mailto:gspolarich@oceana.org)
Anna Baxter, abaxter@oceana.org (mailto:abaxter@oceana.org)Â