Sustainable packaging swap a win-win for amazon

In Seattle, e-commerce behemoth Amazon has reduced its use of plastic air cushions by a staggering 15 billion by using paper packing filler instead.

Testing confirmed the paper filler protected products better than the air cushions, and, because they took up less space, allowed amazon to reduce box size in many instances. Ultimately, the company has been able to replace 95% of its plastic air cushions in the North American market.

“We [also] want to make sure that the final package is curbside recyclable,” Pat Lindner, Amazon’s vice president of mechatronics and sustainable packaging, recently told Fast Company.

The substitution also lowered costs for amazon because fewer items break in transit. “When we look at costs, we look at total cost of ownership,” Lindner added. “And so the fact that we can deliver packages more safely and with less damage is a cost savings to us.”