How to Shop More Sustainably at Amazon

While we love the convenience and affordability of Amazon, you may wonder about the environmental and social impact of fast shipping and overpackaging.

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Sure, it’d be great to completely ditch Amazon, but in some areas, it is the most accessible store for everyday needs. If you’d like to make your Amazon shopping a bit more sustainable, here are some hands-on tips you can start using today.

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Choose Slower Shipping

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To make your Amazon shopping sustainable, consider canceling your Amazon Prime subscription. Prime’s rapid delivery is a luxury that racks up excess emissions. When you ditch Amazon Prime, you’ll forego the excess transit emissions, and probably be less tempted to check out on impulse buys! 

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Listen: The Prime Effect: How Amazon Has Us Hooked on Convenience

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Use Amazon Day Delivery

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If you choose to keep Prime, use Amazon Day Delivery to consolidate your weekly orders. For an even greener option, opt for Amazon pickup lockers when possible. This approach reduces delivery truck emissions and minimizes stop-and-go traffic.

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Opt for Climate Pledge Friendly Products

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Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly badge helps you find sustainable products. When shopping, you'll see this badge at the top of product pages, along with a note indicating the number of sustainability certifications the item has earned. More certifications generally mean a more sustainable product, making it easier to compare options.

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Buy Used Items on Amazon's Website

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Buying secondhand items is a great way to shop sustainably on Amazon. You can find these through Amazon Second Chance. Also, check out Amazon Warehouse for pre-owned items, Amazon Renewed for refurbished electronics, and Certified Refurbished Amazon Devices. These services not only help extend product lifecycles but also offer great deals, making sustainable shopping both environmentally friendly and budget-friendly.

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Also read: 5 Sustainable Alternatives to Amazon

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Reduce Your Returns

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Most of the items that you return end up in landfills since it’s easier (and cheaper) for Amazon to discard them than to relist them. So one of the ways to shop more sustainably on Amazon is to reduce your returns. To do that, you could read product reviews before making a purchase. This helps ensure you're buying high-quality items that meet your needs, reducing the likelihood of return. If you're buying clothes or footwear, reviews can help ensure you're getting the right size and fit.

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Shop Local

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When shopping on Amazon, prioritize buying from brands local to your country or continent to reduce your carbon footprint. For example, if you're in the U.S., opt for products made in the U.S. or Canada instead of those shipped from overseas. This approach makes your Amazon shopping more sustainable by minimizing shipping distances. To easily find local products, simply include "made in USA" in your search query. By choosing local brands, you'll significantly lower the environmental impact of your online purchases.

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Make Less Overall Purchases

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To make your Amazon shopping more sustainable, focus on reducing your overall purchases. This means cutting back on consumption and prioritizing essential items. A practical tip is to turn off Amazon app notifications and emails, which often tempt you into unnecessary shopping. By being more mindful of your buying habits and resisting marketing ploys, you can significantly lower your environmental impact while still using Amazon when needed.

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Buy in Bulk

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Buying in bulk on Amazon is a smart, sustainable choice. It reduces waste and lowers your carbon footprint by cutting down on packaging and delivery trips. This approach works for any store, not just Amazon. When you find yourself regularly buying items like soap, stock up instead of making frequent small purchases. You'll save time, and money, and help the planet in one go.