Report claims Amazon still faces a ‘serious problem’ in the US that it previously ‘solved’ in India in 2020

Environmental group Oceana has released a scathing report criticizing Amazon’s efforts to reduce plastic packaging waste in the United States. The nonprofit conservation organization’s report reveals that Amazon’s plastic waste in the US has actually increased, despite the company’s claims of global reductions.

According to The Verge, Amazon eliminated single-use plastic delivery bags in Europe in 2022 and in India in 2020. However, the transition has been slower in the US, with a fulfillment center in Ohio only recently switching to paper alternatives in 2023.

In 2022, Amazon reportedly generated a staggering 208 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in the US, marking a nearly 10% increase from the previous year. Oceana estimates that this amount of plastic could encircle the Earth over 200 times if formed into air pillows.

While Amazon touts an 11.6% decrease in global plastic use for 2022, Oceana argues that the US market, Amazon’s largest, is lagging behind. The report also criticizes Amazon for lacking transparency in its sustainability reports, specifically regarding regional plastic use and waste from third-party sellers.

Amazon has refuted Oceana’s report, calling it “misleading” and emphasizing its efforts to eliminate plastic delivery packaging from US fulfillment centers. However, Oceana is demanding a concrete plan from Amazon to phase out plastic packaging in the US and reduce overall plastic use by at least a third by 2030. The limited recyclability of Amazon’s plastic film bags further complicates recycling efforts and adds to the urgency of the situation.