Amazon is working with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee on the development of recyclable shipping bags made from agricultural waste. The aim of the collaboration is to reduce plastic, reduce air pollution caused by stubble burning and develop alternative fibre sources for paper packaging.
India produces around 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste every year. Some of this is currently burnt in the fields, which contributes significantly to air pollution. The joint research project between Amazon and IIT Roorkee aims to make these residues usable as a raw material for packaging in the future, thereby reducing the need for fresh fibre made from wood.
From harvest residues to shipping bags
The focus is on residues such as wheat straw, straw and bagasse from sugar cane processing. These materials are first broken down in an autoclave in the INNOPAP laboratory of the Paper and Packaging Technology department at IIT Roorkee and processed into pulp. This is followed by washing and screening processes to remove impurities and ensure consistent fibre quality. Finally, paper samples are pressed and dried from the pulp obtained in this way to meet Amazon's requirements for stability and recyclability.
According to the project partners, the developed mailing bags are lightweight, stable packaging that can be recycled and home-composted and could replace conventional plastic bags or wood-based virgin fibre paper.
15 months of research until industrialisation
The collaboration is initially designed for a 15-month research and test phase on a laboratory scale. If the performance tests are successful, Amazon intends to support further development towards industrial trials, process validation and commercial production by the middle or end of next year.
„By converting agricultural residues into biodegradable packaging materials, we are simultaneously addressing the challenges of stubble burning and virgin fibre dependency in India and creating scalable solutions that can benefit industry, farmers and society at large. This initiative demonstrates how academic research and industry partnerships can accelerate India's journey towards a more sustainable and self-reliant future.“
Prof Kamal Kishore Pant, Director IIT Roorkee
Amazon also emphasises the strategic approach. Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India, explains: „At Amazon, we are building and operating India's fastest, safest and most reliable operational network and are committed to making it more sustainable. As part of this endeavour, we are working with IIT Roorkee to develop innovative packaging from crop residues.“
He adds: „India generates almost 500 million tonnes of this waste every year and by converting it into packaging, we can support a more circular economy while reducing dependence on conventional materials.“
Classification in Amazon's packaging strategy
Amazon claims to send more than 50 per cent of customer shipments in India either in their original packaging or with reduced additional packaging. According to the company, it has completely banned single-use plastic from packaging in its Indian fulfilment centres since 2019. The project with IIT Roorkee is in line with the Group's climate strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 as part of the Climate Pledge.
For the packaging industry, the approach is particularly relevant with regard to alternative fibre sources. In view of rising raw material prices, regulatory requirements to avoid waste and growing demands for a circular economy, agricultural residues could play a complementary role in the fibre mix in the future, provided that quality, scalability and cost-effectiveness are proven on an industrial scale.
Source: Amazon
