Oceana’s report found that up to 23.5 million pounds of nearly 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste entered the world’s waterways and seas
Oceana says Amazon's plastic packaging pollution increases by 29%. (Credit: sergeitokmakov from Pixabay)
Amazon has produced about 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in 2020, a 29% increase from 2019, after a surge in e-commerce shopping during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report from international advocacy organisation Oceana.
The report found that up to 23.5 million pounds of nearly 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste entered the world’s waterways and seas, which is equivalent to dumping a delivery van’s payload of plastic into the oceans every 67 minutes.
The ocean conservation organisation also called on Amazon to commit to reducing the use of plastic packaging across the globe, as the e-commerce retailer has announced that it will reduce the use of single-use plastic in India and Germany.
Oceana strategic initiatives senior vice president Matt Littlejohn said: “Our report found that Amazon’s plastic packaging pollution problem is growing at a frightening rate at a time when the oceans need corporate leaders like Amazon to step up and meaningfully commit to reducing their use of single-use plastic.
“Amazon has shown it can do this in large markets like India and Germany. It now needs to commit to do so worldwide.”
Commenting on Oceana’s report, an Amazon spokesperson said the company welcomed ‘informed, constructive dialogue with NGOs and others on these issues,’ however criticised Oceana’s methodologies.
The spokesperson added: “Amazon is making rapid progress in reducing or removing single-use plastics from packaging materials around the world.”
Oceana surveyed 1,400 Amazon Prime customers in 25 different cities across the UK and US. In the survey, 74.5% of the participants said that their packaging went into the bin and hence, in landfills or the environment.
The report said that 91% of customers want the e-commerce retailer to reduce its use of plastic packaging and 740,000 people have signed a petition asking Amazon for plastic-free preferences.