“The largest single test we’ve ever done”

Amazon has announced a new packaging trial that could accelerate the shift to greener shopping around the world.

According to Packaging Gateway, reusable packaging is planned to be introduced in five European countries through partnerships with packaging companies RE-ZIP and Hipli.

Taking part in the testing program is easy: customers in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Luxembourg can return their reusable packaging to their nearest collection point free of charge after scanning a QR code. If all goes well, Amazon will consider expanding the program.

🗣️ When you think about product packaging, which of these factors is more important to you?

🔘What does it look like 😍

🔘 Information it provides 🧐

🔘The waste it produces 🗑️

🔘I don’t think about packaging at all 🤷

🗳️ Click on your choice to see the results and give your opinion.

“The collaboration with Amazon is the biggest test we’ve ever done,” said RE-ZIP CEO and founder Bo Bach Boddum, according to Packaging Gateway. “That’s why we’re thrilled to see Amazon customers receive our patented cardboard boxes.”

According to RE-ZIP’s life cycle assessment report, its packaging has an 80% return rate, ultimately resulting in 80% less planet-warming carbon dioxide equivalent being released into the atmosphere and 89% less water used. It also reduces wood consumption by 93%, helping to protect critical ecosystems that support biodiversity and promote healthier air quality.

These eco-friendly steps are one of the reasons why the Danish company, whose boxes are reusable, is part of the “Amazon Sustainability Accelerator” launched in 2022, according to Packaging Gateway.

On its website, Amazon explains that this free program for startups developing sustainable solutions supports its goals of significantly reducing harmful pollution by 2040—and along with improving energy efficiency, packaging waste is a major part of this.

UK-based Business Waste Management estimates that 40% of the world’s plastic waste comes from packaging. Adopting a greener way to ship and package items can go a long way toward cleaning up our oceans, parks, and communities, as well as reducing methane emissions when discarded items decompose in landfills.

“The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is a testament to Amazon’s commitment to supporting innovation and driving positive change,” Amazon Chief Sustainability Officer Justine Mahler said, according to Packaging Gateway. “By providing a real-life test bed for unique and cutting-edge technologies, we are not only reducing our environmental impact, but also creating the foundation for more sustainable practices throughout the industry.”

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