Amazon generated 94,000 tons of plastic waste in the US in 2022

amazon generated almost 94,000 metric tons (208 million pounds) of plastic packaging waste in the United States in 2022, an increase of 9.6% compared to the previous year, as reported this Thursday by the NGO Oceana.

“Amazon’s failure to reduce plastic in the United States is worrying“, highlights in a statement Matt LittlejohnSenior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Oceania.

The activist also wonders how it is possible that in other important markets, such as India and Europe, amazon has managed to shinedrastically” their plastic packaging.

amazon It got rid of single-use plastic bags for orders shipped from its fulfillment centers in India in 2020 and in Europe in 2022. However, the change has been slower in the United States.

Globally, the e-commerce giant says it reduced its use of plastic packaging by 11.6% in 2022 compared to the previous year.

In a study titled ‘United States of Amazon Plastic‘, the NGO calculated the amount of plastic packaging waste generated by Amazon in the US based on available market data.

“Oceana estimates that up to 22 million pounds (nearly 10,000 metric tons) of global Amazon plastic packaging waste from 2022 will end up in the world’s waterways and seas.“, emphasizes the statement.

For his part, Amazon’s vice president of mechatronics and sustainable packaging, Pat Lindner, told The Verge that Oceana’s analysis was a ““misleading report with exaggerated and inaccurate information.”