Amazon, Flipkart Pledges to Remove Single-Use Plastic from Packaging

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): E-Commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart has announced new targets aimed at eliminating use of single-use plastics for packaging at its India operations. This is in the light of government’s efforts to curb use of harmful plastics, as advocated by the Prime Minister in his address to the nation on the country’s 73^rd Independence Day.

According to Flipkart, it has reduced the use of single-use plastic in its packaging by 25% as of August 1, 2019. In addition, the company is working on several initiatives including introduction of eco-friendly paper shred operations. It also plans to use recycled paper bags in place of poly pouches and carton shredded waste material in place of bubble wraps. Flipkart targets 30% collection back in the first year, by filing for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.

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Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Group CEO, Flipkart stated that the company will focus on creating alternatives for single-use plastic packaging, as part of its long-term vision to eliminate use of plastic.

Meantime, Amazon has committed investment of $5 billion in India, aimed at eliminating single-use plastic from its packaging by June 2020. The company has introduced paper cushions, which will replace air pillows and bubble wraps. The solution, now launched in select fulfilment centres, will now be extended to all centres across the country by the end of the current year.

Akhil Saxena, vice president, customer fulfilment, Amazon India noted that only less than 7% of Amazon’s packaging material currently consists of single-use plastics.