In this article:
- Amazon takes another step toward its goal of net-zero carbon by 2040
- Replaces plastic with insulated paper packaging for curbside pickup or delivered perishable groceries
- Will this become a trend?
Good things come from brown paper packages, as we all know, and it’s especially true now, as grocery delivery just got more sustainable with Amazon. In an extended blog post, the company announced its new packaging for frozen and chilled foods for Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, which is designed to reduce waste and be curbside recyclable. The rollout comes in time for customers who will be getting their Thanksgiving ingredients delivered through Amazon’s services.
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The benefits of paper packaging include the fact that it is produced regionally rather than imported from abroad, which allows for a shorter journey for the packaging and less of an impact on the planet from transport. But the more impressive numbers that the company shares are these:
“Moving to all curbside-recyclable insulation packaging reduces material waste and each year replaces approximately 735,000 pounds of plastic film, 3.15 million pounds of natural cotton fiber, and 15 million pounds of non-recyclable mixed plastic.”
How do Amazon customers feel about the new packages? According to what Amazon shares, they’re very happy about it. The article shares one example of a positive reaction:
“Absolutely LOVEEEE the new cold foods packaging you are using! Prefer it over the non-recyclable ‘cooler bags.’ And my food was just as cold! Thank you for taking care of our environment.”
The article goes into greater detail about the development of the packaging as part of the company’s commitment to a long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2040. It has been working toward innovative and sustainable solutions for packaging needs for years now.
There are several important ramifications for Amazon’s shift toward recyclable packaging that we can… unpack here. First, obviously the huge number of packages that Amazon itself handles and their environmental impact means this change is immediately impactful.
Furthermore, Amazon is a known trendsetter for other businesses. And we have first-hand knowledge of someone who is not ordering fridge items from grocery deliveries because the packages are not recyclable. So, accordingly, if Amazon can demonstrate that recyclable packages work for food that has to stay cold – and that customers feel even greater loyalty to the retailer for upholding sustainability – we should see other food sellers following its example.