Retail giant Amazon.com has developed a weather-resistant paper that stretches into the shape of a package, in order to cut waste—and it can be heat-sealed like plastic, without using glue.
A sensor can scan the items such as video games, kitchen gadgets, sports gear, and office supplies that were previously sent in boxes and divert them to the new system.
The machine then cuts a paper bag to fit the item perfectly and minimizes the empty space around the contents.
Each bag is secured using glue-free, heat-sealing technology, enabling the machines to pack quickly and accurately.
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“Our material scientists developed a light but durable paper which can be heat-sealed like plastic – but is all easily recyclable in your household collections,” said Thais Blumer, head of sustainable packaging for Amazon Europe.
“Our trials already show that this technology is efficient, secure and reliable.”
The retail giant’s packaging engineers came up with this technology by redesigning machines that previously made plastic packages.
The original machines were decommissioned when Amazon stopped packing items in single-use plastic delivery bags at fulfillment centers across Europe.
To adapt the devices, engineers added new components, allowing them to process thin coated paper instead of plastic. The first of these, located in Mönchengladbach in Germany and Bristol in the UK, have already packed thousands of items for customers.
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In the future, Amazon expects that automated packaging technology will be able to pack multiple items in strong paper or cardboard packaging, that’s made to measure with very little air space, while protecting items in transit.
Lighter shipments can lead to reduced delivery emissions per package, driving the company further towards its goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2040.
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“On average, each shipment packed with this machine helps us avoid 26 grams (almost one ounce) of packaging,” saya Blumer. “Multiply this by millions of packages and you can imagine the impact.”
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