Working hard on packaging is a way for many e-commerce platforms to pursue carbon reduction and environmental protection. Whether carbon reduction packaging will affect consumers' online shopping experience, especially how consumers accept reduced packaging, is a topic of concern for e-commerce platforms.
In a recent survey commissioned by Amazon on July 12, more than half (52%) of European adults said they would not mind "no extra packaging" for their online purchases in order to reduce their environmental impact. Nearly a third of adult respondents (32%) want retailers and manufacturers to reduce product packaging. Since 2015, Amazon has achieved an average 38 percent reduction in packaging per shipment, reducing total packaging use by more than 1.5 million tons.
No extra packaging means lighter goods, less logistical carbon emissions per package, and customers don't have to recycle additional Amazon cartons or paper bags.
The findings come at a time when Amazon is increasingly shipping essentials such as kitchen utensils, nappies and laundry detergent to customers in Europe without extra packaging. According to the survey, the items people are most willing to ship in the manufacturer's original packaging include: pet food, toilet paper, gardening products and DIY products, which can be shipped with an address label. Products that fall under Amazon's confidential shipping category, such as bikini waxing paper, and big-ticket items such as laptops, which are not part of Amazon's reduced-packaging program, were ranked as items respondents least expected to ship in their original packaging.
"Customers are as concerned about packaging reduction as we are. Since 2021, we have seen a 50% increase in the number of orders to Europe without additional packaging, and we are working hard to ship more in this way." Said Justine Mahler, director of packaging innovation at Amazon.
So, can the safety of "no extra packaging" be guaranteed?
Products shipped with "no extra packaging" are subject to rigorous drop testing to ensure they can use their original packaging, and more than a third of adult respondents (35%) say they feel confident in "no extra packaging" shipping when they learn about refund or replacement services for lost items. If there is a problem with an Amazon order, customers can contact customer service at any time to request an exchange or refund. Currently, Amazon is working with product manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble to design and test product packaging so that products can be shipped without additional packaging. When packaging is needed, Amazon develops intelligent packaging options for customers to ensure that the packaging fits properly and ensures product safety while minimizing the use of materials. All paper bags, cardboard envelopes and cartons used by Amazon in Europe are 100% recyclable.
In addition to its commitment to packaging reduction, Amazon is also a co-sponsor and first signatory of the Climate Declaration, an initiative that commits to net-zero carbon emissions 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement goal. To date, more than 400 companies from 55 industries and 35 countries have joined the initiative. Amazon is on track to meet its commitment to use 100% renewable energy to power its operations by 2025.
