Amazon's 2024 Sustainability Review: Insights into Manufacturing and Delivery Operations
In 2024, Amazon made significant strides in its sustainability efforts, demonstrating a commitment to a greener future. Dr. Elizabeth Green, a leading voice in sustainability, continues to inspire through her work with Amazon, driving global initiatives, writing, speaking engagements, and mentorship programs.
Amazon's 2024 Sustainability Report highlighted improvements in various areas, including emissions, renewable energy, waste reduction, and skills development. The company reduced single-use plastic packaging by 16.4% by eliminating plastic air pillows worldwide and substituting them with recyclable paper fillers.
Data centers operated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) demonstrated energy efficiency with a power use effectiveness (PUE) of 1.15 in 2024. Amazon maintained 100% renewable energy matching for worldwide operations, a significant accomplishment. The company provided solar and wind power to match all operating energy for Echo, Fire TV, and Ring devices in 2024.
Amazon's emissions increased by 6% to 68.25 MTCO2e in 2024, potentially due to AI-driven data center growth. However, the company is not resting on its laurels. Amazon plans to reduce carbon emissions beyond 2024 by continuing its commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
Key actions beyond 2024 include renewable energy expansion, electric vehicle fleet growth, carbon removal investments, AI and technology optimization, sustainability innovation with startups, operational and packaging improvements, and operational and packaging improvements.
Amazon aims to operate with 100% renewable energy by 2025, already having completed over 500 renewable energy projects with a capacity exceeding 30 GW globally. The company plans to expand its fleet of electric delivery vehicles substantially, targeting 100,000 electric vehicles by 2030.
Beyond energy and transportation, Amazon backs nature-based carbon removal projects like reforestation and technological solutions such as direct air capture, aiming to offset residual emissions. Amazon uses AI-driven tools like the Maximo robot to accelerate renewable infrastructure development and optimize logistics to reduce waste and energy consumption across its supply chain.
Through the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, the company supports startups focused on climate technology and sustainable products, fostering early-stage innovation that can contribute to emission reductions across its ecosystem from 2025 onward. They have made progress reducing carbon emissions per shipped unit by approximately one-third since 2019 and are innovating in packaging to minimize waste and improve recyclability.
Amazon's landfill diversion improved to 85% in 2024, a significant step in waste management. The company is making progress towards water positivity, with 53% progress in 2024, aiming for 100% by 2030.
Amazon's efforts are not just limited to its own operations. The company encourages group action to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 through The Climate Pledge, which was co-founded in 2019 and signed by 549 people in 2024. With India hitting its 10,000 EV goal a year ahead of schedule, Amazon increased the number of electric vehicles (EVs) in its fleet from over 19,000 to over 31,000 vans.
Amazon's EV deployment and renewable energy solutions are transforming global manufacturing and logistics, encouraging suppliers and partners to follow environmentally friendly procedures. Reducing waste, such as replacing plastic pillows with recyclable paper fillers, sets the standard for innovative packaging in the sector.
Amazon operates on a scale unprecedented in the industry, with over 1.5 million employees and the ability to deliver over 1,000 packages per minute worldwide. Despite this scale, Amazon's sustainability initiatives position it to meet its long-term net-zero goal by dramatically lowering emissions in energy use, transportation, supply chain logistics, and product lifecycle beyond 2024, supported by technology, partnerships, and internal innovation.
- Amazon's sustainability initiatives, led by Dr. Elizabeth Green, extend beyond writing and speaking engagements to include environmental reporting, focusing on sustainability in their 2024 Sustainability Report.
- The report showcases improvements in sustainability, with a significant reduction in single-use plastic packaging and a 100% renewable energy matching for worldwide operations.
- In light of the increased emissions in 2024, Amazon has undertaken courses in education and training to continue reducing carbon emissions, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
- To support the sustainability movement, Amazon convenes events through The Climate Pledge, encouraging group action and encouraging suppliers and partners to follow environmentally friendly procedures.
- Amazon's NGO initiatives include supporting startups focused on climate technology and sustainable products through the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, promoting green sports and furthering the cause of sustainability.
