Amazon has reported notable progress in its sustainability strategy, diverting 85% of its operational waste from landfills in 2024—up from 84% the previous year. The development is part of the company’s broader climate commitments, including its pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
According to Amazon, 83% of its diverted waste was either recycled or composted. Cardboard and wood—comprising 65% of its total waste—were nearly 100% recycled. “We handle a vast array of items globally, which makes waste management complex,” said Justine Mahler, director of technical product management for waste, water, and biodiversity at Amazon. “Our partnerships with over 350 service providers help us recycle everything from safety shoes to industrial equipment.”
One of the key initiatives in 2024 was the deployment of GoCarts, reusable wheeled logistics carts that replaced 85 million disposable wooden pallets, cutting forklift-related emissions. “These carts streamline our logistics and cut waste significantly,” noted Jill Philips Ortega, general manager at Amazon’s DuPont, Washington facility.
Packaging remains central to Amazon’s sustainability agenda. The company is shifting toward curbside-recyclable, paper-based materials. Its Euclid, Ohio site became the first Amazon facility to eliminate plastic packaging completely, deploying equipment that customizes mailer sizes to reduce excess material. Additionally, 12% of total shipments were delivered in original brand packaging through the expanded Ships in Product Packaging program.
In grocery, where plastic is harder to eliminate, Amazon is working with its Sustainable Materials Innovation Lab and the BOTTLE Consortium to develop biodegradable biopolyesters. Trials in Seattle’s Amazon Fresh stores using Mater-Bi produce bags have shown promising results.
Amazon also partnered with Glacier, an AI-driven recycling startup, to improve sorting of biopolyester packaging—achieving 99% accuracy with standardized formats.
Complementing these initiatives, Amazon donated the equivalent of 81 million meals globally in 2024, further reducing waste through food recovery.