The technology will allow tracking the fate of packaging after delivery of goods
Amazon is actively working to reduce the waste that is generated in the company's operations. The company says it used about 97 million kilograms of single-use plastic in its product packaging in 2021. However, the non-profit organization Oceana estimates the figure to be at least 317 million kilograms. This — a huge difference, however, in both cases it — significant amount of waste requiring attention.
With the goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2040, Amazon is actively developing and implementing new technologies. One such technology was a collaboration with Glacier, a company that specializes in recycling and tracking packaging after use. As part of this collaboration, Amazon plans to improve control over packaging and determine whether it ends up in recycling or waste.
Amazon's investment through the Climate Commitment Fund will enable Glacier technology based on two key products. The first of them — This is a special robot that is widely used in waste processing plants to sort various materials. The second product — this is artificial intelligence that will be used inside Amazon.
Glacier already cooperates with clients from 10 US states. This technology is also being actively developed in collaboration with large companies and government agencies. Information about waste and the recycling process helps to better understand the problem of garbage and develop effective ways to solve them.
Amazon, along with other investors including New Enterprise Associates (NEA), AlleyCorp, Overture VC and VSC Ventures, is investing $7.7 million in Glacier technology.