69% of Indian adults would be happy if items they order online arrive without added delivery packaging, a new study* commissioned by Amazon finds. The findings come even as more and more essential items, including toilet rolls and pallets of beverage drinks, are being delivered to Indian shoppers without additional product packaging. Amazon avoids adding its own packaging by protecting eligible items with a reusable crate or tote bag. More than half (55%) of the respondents said they would be happy to receive purchases without added delivery packaging so that the use of packaging materials can be reduced. Since 2021, Amazon has increased the number of orders sent to customers in India without any added delivery packaging by 83%
Lighter shipments, reduced emissions
No added packaging can mean shipments are lighter, which leads to reduced delivery emissions per package. Also, customers don’t need to recycle an additional Amazon cardboard box or paper bag. Since 2015, Amazon has globally reduced the weight of outbound packaging per shipment by 41% on average and eliminated over 2 million tons of packaging material.
“Like us, our customers really care about reducing packaging, and we’ve made significant progress doing so for years,” said Abhinav Singh, Vice President- Operations, Amazon India. “That said, we aren’t satisfied with continued reduction. Where possible, we want to eliminate packaging altogether. One way we do this is by working with manufacturers to design packaging that’s capable of shipping safely, without additional paper bags, envelopes or boxes from us."
We’ve already achieved a lot, increasing the number of orders shipped to customers with no added delivery packaging in India by 83% since 2021. We are working to ship even more deliveries the same way.
Tech accessories, homeware, home improvement products, shoes, and luggage items are among the products that are often shipped with no added packaging. Among the items people are happiest to receive in the manufacturer’s original packaging – with just an address label added – are clothing apparel (34%), detergent (30%) and stationery (30%).
The products that need additional packaging
The research found that the items customers would be least happy to receive without additional packaging include contraceptive devices, haemorrhoid cream and bikini wax strips (product categories that Amazon already ships discreetly), as well as some high value items such as mobile phones and laptops that are excluded from Amazon’s reduced packaging programme. Items such as liquids, fragile goods, and personal care items that need additional protection during transportation continue to be shipped with added packaging.
Safe and reliable deliveries—even for items without added packaging
Products selected to be shipped in product packaging have passed rigorous drop tests by Amazon, ensuring they can reach customers safely and securely without added delivery packaging. This is a reassuring fact for more than half (55%) of the survey respondents who say their main concern about deliveries without additional outer packaging is damage.
Machine learning to evaluate packaging durability
Amazon’s intelligent algorithm also uses machine learning to evaluate the durability of the manufacturer's packaging, considering the distance those packages travel, to ensure that additional packaging is not required. The algorithm also help in making smart packaging choices for customers so that it fits well, uses as little material as possible, and protects customers’ orders. One in three survey respondents said knowing they can get a refund or replacement for missing items gives them the confidence to receive their online orders with reduced additional packaging. If there is a problem with an Amazon order, customers can always contact customer service to request a replacement or refund.
Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040
Amazon is also the co-founder of and the first signatory to The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. To date, the pledge has more than 450 signatories, across 57 industries and 38 countries. As part of its commitment, Amazon is on a path to reaching 100% renewable energy across its operations by 2025.
*Note: 2,000 Indian adults were surveyed by OnePoll for Amazon in September 2023 about receiving deliveries without additional delivery packaging.
