Survey shows Amazon customers want plastic-free
Public opinion research sponsored by Oceana, the world’s largest international ocean conservation organisation, shows Amazon customers are buying more online due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, are overwhelmingly concerned about plastic pollution and its impact on the oceans, and want major online retailers including Amazon to give them plastic-free packaging choices. UK customers are by far the most in favour of a plastic-free checkout option (81%), with half of them willing to shop elsewhere to be given a plastic-free option (52%). In response to these findings and the growing ocean plastic pollution crisis, Oceana in the UK, the U.S. and Canada announced today it is launching a campaign calling on Amazon to offer its customers plastic-free packaging choices.
“Jeff Bezos and Amazon say they are ‘obsessed’ with meeting the needs of their customers. It’s clear from the results of our survey that what Amazon customers want is for the company to do the right thing and offer plastic-free options at checkout,” said Matt Littlejohn, senior vice president of Oceana adding that, “British consumers want to end the plastic disaster and Amazon can make a difference for its customers and the oceans by doing this: this is a company that, according to recent news reports, shipped approximately seven billion packages in 2019, many of those packed with plastic.”
“This is a company led by a CEO Jeff Bezos who is investing in space exploration and that is testing using drones to deliver stuff to our houses,” he added. “They surely have the ability to figure out how to offer plastic-free alternatives.”
Amazon’s packaging and materials lab have created lightweight plastic-free packaging, including a new mailer that the company reports have been used 100 million times. The company is known for its innovation in logistics and delivery technology and has made commitments to protect the environment, including a pledge to be zero carbon by 2040. Further, Amazon recently announced it eliminated non-recyclable plastic in packaging across its fulfilment centres in India.
“Amazon has the technical ability, with its fulfillment centers, to offer plastic-free alternatives to its customers, reduce plastic and help protect the oceans and environment,” noted former Amazon executive and consultant Rachel Johnson Greer. “It is really a question of will.”
YouGov polled a representative sample of 2,202 adults in the UK on behalf of Oceana and found that for the Amazon UK customers surveyed:
- 94% were concerned or very concerned about plastic pollution and its impact on the oceans and the environment;
- 89% said they either strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, “I would use a plastic-free choice/alternative packaging if offered;
- 52% said they would be willing to part ways to shop at online retailers offering plastic free packaging;
- 61% strongly and/or somewhat agreed with the statement, “the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has forced me to shop online more than I did before the virus;” and
- 56% strongly and/or somewhat agreed with the statement, “I’m bothered by all the extra plastic packing I am now receiving due to increased online shopping because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.”
The concern and support were even higher among those who report being Amazon UK Prime members with 95% of this group expressing concern about plastic pollution and 89% agreeing that they would use a plastic-free choice/alternative packaging if offered. Oceana also sponsored surveys of consumers in the United States (with YouGov) and in Canada (with Abacus Data) that showed similar concern about plastic pollution and support for plastic-free choices.