Helena Joyce
Amazon's carbon footprint has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with the company facing scrutiny for its impact on the environment. Amazon's absolute carbon emissions rose 18% in 2021, with a total footprint of 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This was a 40% increase from 2019, when the company first began disclosing its carbon footprint. Amazon's climate pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 has been criticized as misleading, as the company's emissions continue to grow. Additionally, Amazon has been accused of undercounting its carbon footprint by only counting the emissions from Amazon-branded goods and not those from manufacturers. The company's rapid growth during the pandemic and expansion of its logistics network have also contributed to its increasing carbon emissions. Amazon's plastic packaging waste has also been a concern, with an estimated 599 million pounds generated in 2020, contributing to pollution in the world's waterways and oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbon footprint in 2023 | 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent |
| Carbon footprint in 2021 | 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent |
| Carbon footprint in 2020 | 57.99 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (calculated from 2021 data) |
| Carbon footprint in 2019 | 51.10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (calculated from 2021 data) |
| Carbon footprint increase from 2019 to 2021 | 40% |
| Carbon footprint increase from 2020 to 2021 | 18% |
| Plastic packaging waste in 2020 | 599 million pounds |
| Plastic packaging waste increase from 2019 to 2020 | 29% |
| Plastic packaging waste that entered and polluted the world's waterways and oceans in 2020 | 23.5 million pounds |
| Percentage of Amazon Prime customers concerned about plastic pollution's impact on the oceans | 94.8% |
| Percentage of Amazon Prime customers who want Amazon to reduce its use of plastic packaging | 91% |
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What You'll Learn
Amazon's carbon emissions increased 18% in 2021
Amazon's carbon emissions increased by 18% in 2021, according to the company's sustainability report. This rise in emissions is attributed to the company's rapid growth during the pandemic, which overwhelmed its efforts to reduce emissions. Amazon emitted 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2021, a 40% increase since the company first disclosed its carbon emissions data in 2019.
Amazon's carbon footprint includes emissions from its offices, data centres, purchased electricity, tailpipe emissions from delivery partners, and the manufacturing of Amazon-branded products. However, Amazon does not account for emissions from the manufacture of products it sells, except for private-label merchandise. This discrepancy has led to accusations of Amazon understating its carbon footprint and not taking full responsibility for its impact on global warming.
Amazon has pledged to become a "'net zero' emitter of greenhouse gases by 2040." To achieve this goal, the company plans to implement electric vehicles and other operational initiatives, as well as buy credits linked to projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. However, critics argue that Amazon's rapid growth and diverse business operations present a significant challenge to its net-zero pledge.
While Amazon's carbon intensity, a measure of emissions relative to gross merchandise sales, fell by 1.9% in 2021, indicating improved efficiency, the absolute increase in emissions underscores the need for more aggressive emission reduction strategies. Amazon's large-scale operations and supply chain complexity contribute to its significant environmental impact, highlighting the importance of accurate emission reporting and comprehensive climate action.
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Amazon's plastic packaging waste increased 29% in 2020
Amazon's carbon footprint has been a growing concern for environmentalists, activists, and investors. The company has been criticised for undercounting its carbon footprint and not taking enough responsibility for global warming. Amazon's reported carbon footprint increased by just over 36% from 2018 to 2020, and its carbon intensity improved by 16% in 2020.
The company's rapid growth during the pandemic overwhelmed its efforts to reduce emissions, and its carbon footprint grew by 18% in 2021. Amazon's carbon footprint includes emissions from its offices, data centres, purchased electricity, delivery partners' tailpipe emissions, and the manufacturing of Amazon-branded products.
Amazon's plastic packaging waste is another significant environmental concern. In 2020, Amazon's plastic packaging waste increased by 29% from 2019, amounting to 599 million pounds. Of this, an estimated 23.5 million to 24 million pounds entered oceans and waterways, impacting over 2,249 marine species. Amazon's plastic packaging, including air pillows and bubble wrap, is difficult to recycle and contributes significantly to ocean pollution.
Amazon has responded to criticisms by highlighting its moves towards zero-plastic packaging solutions in some countries and its commitment to protecting the planet as a co-founder of The Climate Pledge. The company aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 through various initiatives, including cutting emissions with electric vehicles and buying credits linked to projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. However, Amazon has also been accused of misleading employees and the public about its progress towards its climate goals.
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Amazon's climate pledge to be carbon neutral by 2040
Amazon has been criticized for drastically undercounting its carbon footprint. A report by Reveal News states that Amazon only takes responsibility for the full climate impact of products with an Amazon brand label, which make up about 1% of its online sales. Amazon does not count the emissions that go into the manufacture of products it sells with non-Amazon brands. These products might even be labelled “Climate Pledge Friendly”, but they are not counted towards the Climate Pledge.
Amazon's carbon footprint increased by just over 36% from 2018 to 2020. In 2021, it grew by another 18%. In 2023, Amazon's carbon footprint was 68.82 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Despite this, Amazon has made a pledge to be net-zero carbon across its business by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. Amazon co-founded the Climate Pledge in 2019, alongside Global Optimism, and more than 550 companies from around the world have since joined.
Amazon has set interim goals and identified key areas of its business for decarbonization, such as delivery and logistics, building construction and operations, servers and hardware, products and services, and packaging. To meet its goal, Amazon has ordered 100,000 electric delivery trucks from Rivian, a Michigan-based company. It has also removed plastic air pillows from all delivery packaging at fulfillment centers globally, reached its goal of matching 100% of the electricity it uses with renewable energy in 2023, and has more than 24,000 electric delivery vehicles on the road globally.
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Amazon's carbon footprint increased 36% from 2018 to 2020
Amazon's carbon footprint increased by 36% from 2018 to 2020. The company's rapid growth during the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed its efforts to reduce emissions. Amazon's absolute carbon emissions rose by 18% year-over-year in 2021, with the company's online orders surging due to pandemic-driven buying. The company expanded its logistics network and rapidly grew its warehouse footprint to meet demand.
Amazon's carbon emissions are likely an undercount of the true extent of its pollution. The company only includes emissions from Amazon-branded goods and does not account for emissions from the manufacture of other products it sells. Amazon's carbon footprint includes emissions from its offices, data centres, purchased electricity, tailpipe emissions from delivery partners, and the manufacturing of Amazon-branded products. However, it does not include emissions from the production of other goods sold on its platform.
Amazon has faced scrutiny for its carbon accounting practices, with reports suggesting that the company vastly undercounts its carbon footprint. Unlike competitors such as Target and Walmart, Amazon does not count emissions from products it buys from manufacturers and sells directly to customers. These products make up about 39% of sales, and Amazon's failure to include them in its carbon footprint calculations results in a significant undercounting of its environmental impact.
Amazon has pledged to become a "'net zero' emitter of greenhouse gases by 2040 and has committed to cutting emissions with electric vehicles and other operational initiatives. The company plans to purchase credits linked to projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. However, critics argue that such pledges can allow companies to engage in misleading carbon accounting, claiming to be "'carbon-neutral' through the purchase of carbon offsets without significantly reducing their emissions.
Amazon's plastic pollution is also a significant issue, with the company generating 599 million pounds of plastic packaging waste in 2020, a 29% increase from 2019. The company has faced criticism for its empty recycling promises, as its plastic packaging is difficult to recycle and not accepted by most recycling programs. Amazon has eliminated single-use plastic packaging in India and increased reusable packaging in that market, but it needs to take more substantial steps to reduce its plastic footprint globally.
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Amazon's carbon intensity improved 16% in 2020
Amazon has been criticised for drastically undercounting its carbon footprint. While the company has marketed itself as a leader in the fight against climate change, a private report obtained by Reveal shows that the company's reported carbon footprint increased by 36% from 2018 to 2020. Amazon's carbon emissions continued to rise in 2021, with an 18% increase in its carbon footprint.
Despite this, Amazon's public sustainability report states that its carbon intensity—the amount of carbon emitted per dollar made—improved by 16% in 2020. Amazon's carbon intensity decreased from 122.8 grams of CO2 equivalent per dollar of gross merchandise in 2019 to 102.7 grams in 2020. This means that Amazon is creating fewer greenhouse gas emissions per dollar earned, even as its total emissions continue to rise.
Amazon has attributed this improvement to its exploration, testing, and investment in sustainable innovations in freight and air transport. For example, the company invested in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in 2020, which it claims reduces emissions by up to 20%. Amazon has also become the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world, with 10 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity worldwide, including wind and solar projects.
However, critics argue that Amazon's focus on improving carbon intensity is not enough to address its growing total emissions. Amazon has been accused of only taking responsibility for the climate impact of its own-brand label products, which make up about 1% of its online sales. The company does not count the emissions from the manufacture of products sold by other brands on its platform, which can account for up to 39% of its sales. As a result, Amazon's reported emissions are significantly lower than those of its competitors, even though its vast global empire has a much bigger impact on global temperatures.
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Frequently asked questions
Amazon's carbon footprint in 2021 was 71.54 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This was an 18% increase from 2020 and a 40% increase from 2019.
Amazon has been criticized for not disclosing its carbon footprint and for undercounting its emissions. Unlike other companies, Amazon does not include emissions from the manufacturing of products it sells, except for Amazon-branded goods. This means that Amazon's reported emissions are likely lower than its actual pollution levels.
Yes, Amazon's carbon emissions increased by 18% in 2021 due to the pandemic-driven surge in online shopping. The company expanded its logistics network and warehouse footprint to meet the increased demand, contributing to higher emissions.
Amazon has committed to becoming carbon neutral or net zero by 2040. The company plans to use electric vehicles, purchase carbon credits, and implement other operational initiatives to reduce emissions. Amazon has also eliminated single-use plastic packaging in India and plans to do the same in Germany, one of its largest markets.
