Amazon Fresh is taking a significant step towards sustainability with the introduction of food-safe, bio-based delivery bags in Valencia, Spain. Made from renewable vegetable materials, including corn starch and vegetable oils, these innovative bags are developed in partnership with Italian materials company Novamont, part of Versalis (Eni). The bags are designed to protect groceries from rain and spillages while offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
Durable, Food-Safe, and Eco-Friendly
The new bags, constructed from Novamont’s Mater-Bi™ material, are biodegradable, compostable, and mechanically recyclable. This means the material can degrade naturally without generating microplastics or be recycled into new bags through local recycling programs. Customers in Valencia have already given positive feedback, with 75% expressing satisfaction with the packaging’s eco-friendly features and versatility for reuse.
Alan Jacobsen, Amazon’s Materials & Energy Sciences Director, highlighted the dual benefits of the bags:
“Our new Amazon Fresh bio-based bags provide protection against spills and condensation to keep grocery orders safe for our customers, and at the same time are less impactful for the planet because they are made from renewable, food-safe materials derived from plants.”
Closing the Loop: A Circular Packaging Vision
The pilot program in Valencia goes beyond just testing biodegradable bags. Amazon is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy’s BOTTLE Consortium to pioneer a low-temperature recycling process for bio-based materials. This innovative technology, developed with NREL and the start-up EsterCycle, aims to convert biodegradable materials back into their base components, enabling the creation of new products without material degradation.
Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont, emphasized the opportunity to showcase Mater-Bi’s effectiveness in achieving circularity:
“This is a unique opportunity to test their effectiveness and multiple recycling options in terms of resource regeneration and certified environmental performance.”
Scaling Up Sustainability
The Valencia trial is a critical step in Amazon’s broader sustainability strategy. Insights gained will inform potential expansion of the bio-based bags to other regions. Beyond grocery bags, Amazon and Novamont are exploring advanced packaging solutions, such as biodegradable yogurt cups, coffee pods, and meat containers. Co-financed by Circular Biobased Europe, these initiatives aim to accelerate the shift toward a circular economy in the packaging industry.
Amazon’s Ongoing Commitment
Since 2015, Amazon has been reducing its packaging footprint, eliminating over 3 million metric tons of materials through various initiatives. In Europe, the company’s delivery packaging is 100% recyclable, and programs like Ships In Product Packaging ensure that over a billion shipments since 2019 have been delivered without additional packaging.
As the trial in Valencia progresses, Amazon continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and the development of packaging solutions with a lower environmental impact. With bio-based materials showing promise, the company is paving the way for a greener future in the grocery and packaging sectors.