Amazon partners with IIT Roorkee to develop sustainable packaging from farm waste

Amazon India has partnered with IIT Roorkee to develop recyclable and compostable packaging made from agricultural waste. The initiative aims to reduce stubble burning, cut dependence on virgin wood pulp, and support India’s circular economy goals.

Hyderabad: Amazon India has announced a research collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop innovative packaging materials using agricultural waste, aimed at reducing dependence on virgin wood pulp and addressing stubble-burning challenges.

The project focuses on developing non-wood paper technology by converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp for paper mailers. The resulting packaging is expected to be lightweight, strong, recyclable, and home-compostable, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional wood-based paper and plastic packaging.

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By diverting agricultural waste from burning, the initiative seeks to help curb stubble burning in India while reducing reliance on imported virgin wood pulp. The project could also create additional income opportunities for farmers by establishing a market for agricultural residues.

The collaboration with IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology will begin with laboratory-scale development and testing over a 15-month period. Subject to successful performance outcomes, Amazon will support the transition to industrial trials, process validation, and commercial production by mid to late next year.

Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India, said the company is committed to building a sustainable operations network. “India generates nearly 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually. By repurposing this waste into packaging materials, we can support a circular economy while reducing reliance on conventional materials,” he said.

Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, said sustainability has become an urgent national priority. He added that the collaboration aligns with government initiatives such as Swachh Bharat, Startup India, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy, while addressing stubble burning and dependence on virgin materials through scalable, biodegradable packaging solutions.

The research project will be led by Prof. Vibhore Kumar Rastogi and Dr. Anurag Kulshreshtha from the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) at IIT Roorkee’s Saharanpur campus.

As part of its broader sustainability efforts, Amazon currently ships more than 50 per cent of customer orders in India either in original product packaging or with reduced packaging, reaching over 300 cities. Since 2019, Amazon India has eliminated single-use plastic from packaging across its fulfilment centres.

Amazon is also working towards its Climate Pledge goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040. The company has invested in carbon-free energy, packaging innovation, electric transportation, circular economy initiatives, artificial intelligence, and water stewardship, with a goal to return more water to Indian communities than it uses in its direct operations by 2027.