Monday, June 21, 2021

Oceana: Amazon (AMZN) plastic problem set to skyrocket with Prime Day booming sales

Anne Schroeer, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Oceana, issued the following statement calling on the major online retailer to reduce single-use plastic packaging and give customers a plastic-free packaging choice.

“As Prime Day and Amazon continue to grow, so too does the company’s devastating impact on the environment. In December 2020, Oceana exposed Amazon’s massive plastic footprint, which amounted to an estimated 465 million pounds of plastic packaging in 2019. Our research estimates that, in 2019 alone, up to 22.44 million pounds of Amazon’s plastic packaging waste polluted the world’s freshwater and marine ecosystems where it can wreak havoc on marine life[ii] – that’s the equivalent of dumping a delivery van payload of plastic into the ocean every 70 minutes[iii]. The company disputed our findings and said that its plastic footprint was about a quarter of Oceana’s estimate – which would still be hundreds of millions of pounds – but has, to date, refused to make data about its plastic use public or to commit to plastic reduction goals[iv]. Prime Day sales will only make matters worse, leaving Amazon customers overwhelmed with plastic packaging, much of it which will go on to pollute our oceans. Prime Day customers and our planet deserve better. Amazon should take immediate measures to reduce its plastic footprint and offer its customers a plastic-free packaging choice at checkout.”

To learn more about Oceana’s campaign urging Amazon to address its plastic footprint, reduce plastics, and offer plastic-free alternatives to customers, please visit oceana.org/PlasticFreeAmazon. To find out about Oceana’s campaigns to end the ocean plastic pollution crisis, go to oceana.org/plastics.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Sam Waterston Delivers Keynote Remarks at UN World Oceans Day Event

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, actor and Oceana Board Chair Sam Waterston made keynote remarks at the virtual United Nations annual World Oceans Day event (UNWOD). Waterston spoke to... Read More

Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Belize To Publish Vessel Tracking Data Through Global Fishing Watch

The Belize High Seas Fisheries Unit (BHSFU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to make its vessel tracking data publicly available through the Global Fishing Watch map,... Read More

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Antha Williams of Bloomberg Philanthropies Joins Oceana’s Board of Directors

Today, Oceana, the international ocean conservation organization, announced Antha Williams, Global Head of the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, has joined the organization’s Board of Directors.“Antha is a... Read More

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

35.5% of Amazon Shareholders Call on Company to Report on Plastic Footprint

Last week, at Amazon’s annual general meeting (AGM), 35.5% of the company’s shareholders voted for a resolution to require the e-commerce giant to issue by year end a... Read More

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Shareholders and Investors Set to Vote on Amazon’s Other Looming Problem – Plastics

Contacts:  Gillian Spolarich: gspolarich@oceana.org, 202.467.1909                         Anna Baxter: abaxter@oceana.org, 202.868.4064Amazon’s other big problem – its staggering plastic use – is set to... Read More

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Oceana Welcomes Two New Members to Board of Directors: Professional Big Wave Surfer Maya Gabeira and Entrepreneur Elizabeth Wahler

 Big wave surfer Maya Gabeira (left, photo credit ©Pablo Garcia) and entrepreneur Elizabeth Wahler (right, photo credit ©David Tosti) join Oceana’s Board of DirectorsWashington, D.C. – Today, on... Read More