Mondi helps Amazon replace bubble wrap with protective paper lining in envelopes

Amazon and Mondi have developed a paper envelope with a paper shock-absorbing lining that aims to eliminate plastic packaging components while protecting goods during transport.

 

The online retailer intends to design recyclable packaging to minimise waste and prevent product damage. Where this is not possible, it aims to optimise the type, material and weight of packaging. All without compromising its safety or functionality, in the hope of avoiding waste, lowering carbon emissions and improving circularity.

 

In this regard, the new paper lining will replace the plastic bubble wrap in Amazon's paper envelopes. The redesigned packaging, which is now being distributed to UK consumers, is designed to absorb the stress of shipping and keep products firmly in place.

 

The outer packaging is made of a "specially formulated" lightweight paper, while the inner lining is corrugated paper, which is protective and flexible. The lining is "only a few millimetres thick", but the entire package is said to be "significantly lighter" than a cardboard box of the same size, reducing packaging weight by an average of 44 grams per shipment.

 

The envelope also has multiple ridges built into it, which allow it to be folded around the product inside, making it more flexible than plastic lining alternatives. The package is described as "easy to fill" as it also eliminates the need for paper dunnage or other additional padding materials, according to Amazon.

 

 

The envelope comes in three sizes and can be used for both bulk deliveries and single items. It is said to be useful for everyday purchases such as skin care products, health supplements, home and office supplies, and toys.

 

Thais Blumer, Head of Sustainable Packaging at Amazon Europe, said: "When Amazon stopped using traditional bubble wrap envelopes in Europe a few years ago, it posed a challenge to develop lightweight, flexible and fully recyclable paper packaging that could offer the same protection. Achieving lightweight and maximum protection with 100% recyclable paper envelopes was no easy feat, but these envelopes are easy to pack, can be easily recycled by customers at home and can be delivered without damage."

 

Pedro Cuesta, Packaging Engineer at Mondi, added: "We spent months testing our design together with Amazon, evaluating various filling options such as honeycomb paper and embossed bubble wrap. Ultimately, slotted filling (a flat sheet of paper attached to a ridged sheet of paper) proved to be the best solution. Creating plastic-free padded mailing envelopes for e-commerce packaging has been an exciting collaborative journey towards a more sustainable future. We are proud that Amazon customers across Europe will soon be able to receive their orders in these envelopes."

 

In Europe, Amazon now ships more than 50% of its shipments in recyclable delivery packaging (such as paper bags or cardboard envelopes); since 2019, it has reportedly shipped 150,000 items. 700 million shipments were delivered through its "Product Package Delivery" program, which means products are shipped without any additional Amazon packaging.

 

Amazon claims that it has reduced the weight of packaging per shipment by 43% since 2015, thereby avoiding the use of more than 3 million metric tons of packaging materials. Reducing packaging is also expected to help Amazon fit more packages into its delivery vehicles, reduce the number of trips required to deliver products, and help the company achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040.

Separately, the company claims to have replaced 95% of the plastic air cushions used in its North American delivery packaging with paper fillers, a move that is expected to reduce the use of nearly 15 billion plastic air cushions per year and help eliminate plastic delivery packaging in North American distribution centers. Amazon plans to completely eliminate plastic air cushions by the end of this year.

 

Mondi has taken steps to replace traditional plastic packaging with paper-based packaging; recently Mondi partnered with Welton, Bibby & Baron to produce premium pouches for pre-packed fresh bread products, made from Mondi's FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce, the "thinnest paper" in its barrier paper range. In the UK, the new pouches are recyclable via kerbside recycling.