5 ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle your Amazon packaging

Prime members can use Amazon Day to select a designated day of the week to conveniently receive their packages—which is a great way to combine multiple orders into fewer deliveries.

In 2024, customer adoption of Amazon Day has, on average, resulted in 20% fewer boxes and in lower carbon emissions compared to other Amazon delivery options.

BONUS TIP: Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging program tests and certifies products to ship in their original packaging so there’s no extra Amazon boxes or bags, reducing the amount of packaging you receive. You will see this information on the product detail page and at check-out. If you need to keep your order a surprise, you can add Amazon packaging at check-out. If you’re an Amazon seller, learn more about Product Packaging.

There are many ways to get creative and repurpose your cardboard boxes and paper packaging material into craft supplies. Cardboard boxes can easily be cut to be used as a canvas for painting, create organizers for the home, and are perfect for crafting when a sturdy material is needed.

The easiest way to reuse your Amazon packaging is simply to save the boxes for your own shipping. Many boxes will stack inside others, so you can store them until you have to ship a package or store something.

The Give Back Box allows you to donate your items in Amazon boxes. Just print a shipping label from the Give Back Box website, pack your Amazon boxes with items that are in good condition, and send them off as donations. That's a three-for-one—you're putting your boxes to good use, donating items to those in need, and making space in your home.

Amazon boxes, paper bags, and paper filler can go into household recycling. Amazon’s new paper filler is made from 100 percent recycle content and has replaced plastic air pillows in our delivery packaging globally from our fulfillment centers. We’ve also retrofitted more than 120 machines in the U.S. that used to make plastic bags to now make paper bags, avoiding the use of 130 million plastic bags this year. Plastic bags from Amazon can be taken to designated drop-off centers for recycling.