Remember when Amazon made headlines with its ambitious Climate Pledge back in 2019? The e-commerce giant promised to “meet the Paris Agreement 10 years early.”
In July, Amazon claimed it reached the milestone “seven years early.”
However, a new report from Stand.earth Research Group paints a different picture. In fact, in the US, Amazon’s shipping and delivery emissions have been skyrocketing over the past five years.
From climate pledge to ‘Prime Polluter’
The research shows that its “dock-to-door delivery pollution” generated 5.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023. This is an 18% average year-over-year increase since 2019.
To put that in perspective, it’s approximately the equivalent of the annual emissions of 1.2 million passenger vehicles.
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Amazon’s impact on air freight
In an earlier report, Stand.earth also reported that Amazon – along with UPS and FedEx – were the “largest polluters in the industry.”
Combined, they produce more than 27% of the air freight sector’s global carbon emissions, annually.
In addition, Amazon’s air freight pollution soared by 67% since 2019.
A last-mile delivery problem
Despite investing heavily in electric vehicles (EVs), Amazon’s last-mile delivery van emissions exploded by 190% over the same period.
The goal was to have 120,000 electric vehicles by 2030. It might sound impressive but it covers less than a third of the retail giant’s projected delivery needs.
Meanwhile, Amazon’s heavy-duty truck emissions have grown by 51% – which makes up a total of 37% of each package’s carbon footprint.
At the time of publishing, the company has not announced any plans to transition from fossil fuel-powered trucks to cleaner alternatives.
Amazon’s 2019 Climate Pledge
Five years ago, Amazon committed to net zero carbon by 2040 and 100% renewable energy by 2030. The retail giant invested in a fleet of 100,000 fully electric delivery vehicles at the time.
It also launched a sustainability website to report transparently on its progress and invested $100 million in reforestation projects worldwide.
Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said Amazon delivered more than 10 billion items a year, and if they “can meet the Paris Agreement 10 years early, then any company can.”
Ethical Consumer, however, accused Amazon of “drastically undercounting” its carbon emissions and highlighted the retail giant’s hypocrisy in promoting a climate pledge while supporting oil and gas extraction.
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About the author
Cheryl has contributed to various international publications, with a fervor for data and technology. She explores the intersection of emerging tech trends with logistics, focusing on how digital innovations are reshaping industries on a global scale. When she's not dissecting the latest developments in AI-driven innovation and digital solutions, Cheryl can be found gaming, kickboxing, or navigating the novel niches of consumer gadgetry.
