5 ways to reduce, reuse and recycle your Amazon packaging this holiday season

This holiday season Prime members can use Amazon Day to select a designated day of the week to conveniently receive their packages—which is a great way to combine multiple orders into fewer deliveries.

In 2024, customer adoption of Amazon Day has, on average, resulted in 20% fewer boxes and in lower carbon emissions compared to other Amazon delivery options.

BONUS TIP: Amazon’s Ships in Product Packaging program tests and certifies products to ship in their original packaging so there’s no extra Amazon boxes or bags, reducing the amount of packaging you receive. You will see this information on the product detail page and at check-out. If you need to keep your order a surprise this holiday season, you can add Amazon packaging at check-out. If you’re an Amazon seller, learn more here.

According to the Amazon/Harris Poll survey, 89% of Americans say they are likely to upcycle or reuse packaging waste this holiday season.

There are many ways to get creative and repurpose your cardboard boxes and paper packaging material into holiday decorations. You can cut the cardboard, paper bags, or paper filler into shapes like stars or snowflakes and paint them in festive colors. You can string them and hang them as garland or on the tree as ornaments.

Over two thirds of Americans (68%) are hoping to cut costs on gift-wrapping materials this season, according to the survey. If you're feeling crafty, Amazon boxes and paper filler can be repurposed into custom gift boxes, gift tags, and wrapping.

The holiday season is also about giving back! The Give Back Box allows you to donate your items in Amazon boxes. Just print a shipping label from the Give Back Box website, pack your Amazon boxes with items that are in good condition, and send them off as donations. That's a three-for-one—you're putting your boxes to good use, donating items to those in need, and making space in your home.

Amazon boxes, paper bags, and paper filler can go into household recycling. Amazon’s new paper filler is made from 100 percent recycle content and has replaced plastic air pillows in our delivery packaging globally from our fulfillment centers. And you may see more paper bags this season as we’ve retrofitted more than 120 machines in the U.S. that used to make plastic bags to now make paper bags, avoiding the use of 130 million plastic bags this year. Amazon plastic bags you receive can be taken to drop off centers to be recycled. Find one near you here.