Amazon Is Doing Away With Plastic Air Pillows In All of Its Packages

Many Amazon customers are likely familiar with the plastic air pillows that have been used to insulate items in boxes for years. Now, the company is phasing out the packaging material in favor of a more environmentally conscious alternative.

On June 20, the company announced that it's already replaced 95 percent of its plastic air pillows with paper filler in all of its packages. The transition started back in October at an automated fulfillment center in Ohio, which allowed for testing before expanding to more warehouses with new machines and training for employees.

The paper filling is made from 100 percent recyclable materials and is curbside recyclable. The company also found that it's a comparable—if not better—packing material when it comes to protecting shipments. The move is Amazon's biggest reduction in plastic packaging in North America to date, taking nearly 15 billion plastic air pillows out of the waste cycle every year.

"We want to ensure that customers receive their items undamaged, while using as little packaging as possible to avoid waste, and prioritizing recyclable materials," the company said in a statement.

With Prime Day coming up next month, almost all deliveries will have no air pillows for those purchases.

"I’m proud of the cross-Amazon collaboration to make a positive impact on the customer delivery experience with easier-to-recycle materials," mechatronics and sustainable packaging vice president Pat Lindner said. "We are working towards full removal in North America by end of year and will continue to innovate, test, and scale in order to prioritize curbside recyclable materials."