Amazon this week launched a new line of eco-friendly “everyday essentials” made from materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, and bio-based ingredients.
Available in the US, Canada, and across Europe, Amazon Aware includes apparel, homeware, beauty products, and household basics—all of which are carbon neutral and feature certifications from the Climate Pledge Friendly program.
“Customers want to shop more consciously; we want to make that easier,” Amazon wrote in its Aware FAQ. The carbon footprint of each item is calculated by external certifier ClimatePartner using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which covers emissions from materials, production, distribution, storage, use, and end-of-life. However, Amazon does also note in the FAQ that, “We have accounted for product emissions and neutralized any remaining emissions through high-quality carbon credits.”
Each product features its own green element, from dermatologist-tested skincare and beauty products packaged in refillable aluminum bottles and glass jars (eliminating the need for single-use plastics) to bed and bath items manufactured “with a reduced environmental impact and under socially responsible working conditions,” according to Amazon.
Back in 2019, workers signed an open letter calling for the e-commerce giant to phase out fossil fuels, end partnerships with oil and gas companies, and encourage governments to reduce carbon emissions. The same year, Amazon co-founded The Climate Pledge, which urges businesses to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040—a decade before the Paris Agreement.
Amazon later announced a $2 billion venture-capital fund aimed at supporting businesses in various sectors who are working to reduce the impact of climate change. However, the company also introduced a new policy that can result in punishment or termination for employees who publicly criticize the company’s stance on climate change.
