The largest retailer on the planet ships out 7.7 billion packages annually. How it chooses to wrap these items has serious consequences for the natural world – including humans.
Have you ever ordered a small item from Amazon and been shocked by the size of the parcel that arrived? You’re not the only one.
Amazon is notorious for using unnecessary packaging when shipping items. According to a new report, its global use of plastic in 2021 increased even further than the year before – 709 million pounds.
The non-profit organisation Oceana has revealed that Amazon’s plastic use in 2021 rose by 18 percent. While this information says little about real quantities, making comparisons can help us visualise how awful this really is for the planet.
For example, the amount used in 2020 is equivalent to 70,000 killer whales. The amount used in 2021 would be enough to circle around the world 800 times. Even with this imagery offered by Oceana, it’s still hard for our brains to comprehend the sheer amount going to waste.
Holding major conglomerates accountable for their destructive actions is one of the biggest dilemmas of our age.
Like most major companies, Amazon has been tight-lipped about its use of plastics. It has refused to reveal any true numbers, despite its investors voting in favour of public disclosure.
These shareholders have admitted that the retail giant isn’t doing much to mitigate their use of plastics. This is especially problematic because the types of plastic most often used by the company are impossible to recycle.
For example, its packaging primarily includes thin protective sleeves and films on products. These are feather-light and can be easily lifted from landfill by a gust of wind. As a result, these plastics often float across to waterways and oceans, where they’re prone to be ingested by large marine animals.
The reasons why reliance on plastics at this scale is an issue is common knowledge, but let’s remind ourselves. Oceana has estimated that at least 26 million pounds of Amazon’s annual plastic waste will end up in the world’s water systems.
In addition to harming the largest and smallest of marine life, plastics are horrible for the planet from the moment of their inception. Producing them relies on fossil fuels and petrochemicals, and extracting these substances harm our natural environment.
Once the energy-heavy process of turning these materials into plastic is complete, the forever chemicals leaked from these items become the cause of numerous disease types in humans, such as cancer, respiratory illnesses, and neurological issues.
Not to mention, this plastic material will never disappear. It will only break down into smaller pieces until they’re almost invisible. Already, microplastics dot almost every surface on Earth.
Beneath the soil of rainforests, in the depths of the oceans, and at the bases of mountains you will find particles of plastic. These pesky pieces are even being found inside human blood, breast milk, and new-born babies.
Realising that these horrific scientific discoveries aren’t enough for big corporations to stop producing plastic can be defeating. As consumers, the best we can do is boycott supporting companies who couldn’t care less about putting our planet before profit.
It’s a great resolution, with a new year only a couple of weeks away!
I’m Jessica (She/Her). I’m the Deputy Editor & Content Partnership Manager at Thred. Originally from the island of Bermuda, I specialise in writing about ocean health and marine conservation, but you can also find me delving into pop culture, health and wellness, plus sustainability in the beauty and fashion industries. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.
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