Amazon and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee are developing recyclable, home-compostable packaging from crop residues – intending to reduce plastic consumption, cut carbon emissions, and help farmers profit from side streams.
Reportedly, 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste are generated in India every year. Converting this waste into packaging is hoped to lessen dependence on plastic bags, the virgin materials traditionally used to produce paper, and imported virgin wood pulp.
It is also set to avoid the carbon-intensive practice of stubble burning, or incinerating leftover straw and crop residue after harvest, and provide additional income for farmers.
To develop the packaging, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology directs wheat, straw, and bagasse waste to its Innovations in Paper and Packaging lab.
There, the agricultural waste is processed in an autoclave digester, which breaks the raw materials down into pulp. Then it is washed and screened to remove impurities, and is subsequently pressed and dried to create paper.
Each sample is apparently manufactured to align with Amazon’s specifications for durability and recyclability.
The Department of Paper and Packaging Technology will help Amazon conduct lab-scale development and testing over fifteen months. If these are successful, Amazon plans to support industrial trials, process validation, and commercial production by mid-to-late 2027.
“Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is an urgent national priority,” says Professor Kamal Kishore Pant, director at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. “This collaboration between IIT Roorkee and Amazon is a step towards realizing India’s vision of a circular economy, aligned with government missions.
“By transforming agricultural residues into biodegradable packaging materials, we are addressing the twin challenges of stubble burning and a reliance on virgin materials in India, while creating scalable solutions that can benefit industries, farmers, and society at large. This initiative showcases how academic research and industry partnerships can accelerate India’s journey towards a more sustainable, and self-reliant future.”
Abhinav Singh, vice president of Operations at Amazon India, adds: “At Amazon, we are building and managing India’s fastest, safest, and most reliable operations network, and we’re committed to making it more sustainable. As part of this effort, we’re partnering with IIT Roorkee to develop innovative packaging from crop residue.”
So far, Amazon claims to ship over 50% of its deliveries in India in their original, or else reduced, packaging. Amazon India also reports that it has eliminated 100% of single-use plastic from its packaging across fulfilment centres.
By 2027, the company aspires to return more water to communities in India than it uses in its direct operations. Additionally, its Climate Pledge targets net-zero carbon across Amazon’s operations by 2040.
This time last year, India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced amendments to its Plastic Waste Management Rules. Producers must now provide information about their plastic packaging via an on-pack barcode, QR code, or unique number; publicize the compliance of market operators; and introduce sanctions for broken rules.
In other news, Antalis and Jiffy have sought to avoid oversized boxes and unnecessary packaging with their expandable mailing bag, which is designed to fit snugly around products with its ’flex-to-fit’ Hexpand technology.
One.Five has also packagied organic spices from Foodie & Friends in recyclable barrier packaging made from agricultural residues. This transition is thought to generate 30% less CO2 than petroleum-based polypropylene films.
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