In response, Oceana released the following statement from Matt Littlejohn, Oceanas Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives:\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the worlds dominant e-commerce company, Amazons action to reduce plastic packaging is welcome news for the oceans and the companys customers.<\/p>\n
In 2020, when e-commerce sales surged due to the global pandemic, Oceana and our allies set out to push Amazon to reduce its enormous use of plastic packaging. Now, four years later, Amazon has announced it has effectively phased out plastic air pillows in North America, including in the United States (its largest market), Canada, and Mexico\u00a0 markets accounting for more than 70% of Amazons sales. Oceanas most recent report<\/a> found that, in 2022, protective packaging, including plastic air pillows, accounted for over one-third of all e-commerce plastic packaging by weight globally. Plastic air pillows are made from the most common form of marine plastic litter in nearshore ocean areas\u00a0<\/a> plastic film which is also the deadliest type<\/a> of plastic to large marine animals. Plastic film, unlike its paper alternatives, is not curbside recyclable or compostable. According to research by YouGov, 85% of Amazon customers in the U.S. reported being concerned about plastic pollution.<\/p>\n While this is a significant step forward for the company, Amazon needs to build on this momentum and fulfill its multiyear commitment to transition its North America fulfillment centers away from plastic. Then, the company should expand these efforts and also push innovations like reusable packaging to move away from single-use packaging everywhere it sells and ships.”<\/p>\n Amazons move away from plastic air pillows in North America follows the companys phasing out of plastic air pillows in Australia, and nearly all single-use plastic packaging (including air pillows) in India and throughout Europe. Last year, the company reported using 11.6% less plastic packaging globally in 2022 compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the worlds wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceanas campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit<\/em>Oceana.org<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/em>to learn more.<\/em><\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
\n Media contacts<\/strong>:<\/td>\n Gillian Spolarich, gspolarich@oceana.org<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n \u00a0<\/td>\n Anna Baxter, abaxter@oceana.org<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
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