As residents of planet Earth, we all need to do our part to help our home thrive. This means adopting a more eco-friendly attitude in all aspects of our lives, be it as consumers, manufacturers, or sellers. Amazon shoppers looking to go green will be pleased to know that there are many ways to make your shopping experience more sustainable. Here's what you can do to purchase products sustainably on Amazon.
Your guide to shopping more sustainably on Amazon
Before plunging into the details, here are a couple of facts about Amazon that'll help you understand the company's outlook on sustainability. A few years ago, the e-commerce goliath joined other popular brands like Microsoft, Best Buy, and Verizon in signing the Climate Pledge. In line with the aims of the non-profit organization, Amazon aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2040. Billions of dollars worth of investments have already gone into this initiative, giving birth to projects like the Climate Pledge Friendly program, green operations and logistics decisions, and the use of renewable energy across many Amazon buildings and warehouses.
There's the Amazon Aware store that sells various household and lifestyle products that have been certified by third parties for their use of organic, recycled, and bio-based materials. For sellers, entities like Amazon Launchpad exist to help them implement sustainability across their brands.
If you own one of the best Alexa-enabled speakers and live in the U.S., Amazon has made it even more accessible to contribute to an eco-friendly cause. All you need to do is say "Alexa, grow a tree” and you can donate a dollar towards the One Tree Planted initiative. All your contributions are used to plant trees, converting every $1 into one tree planted on your behalf, combatting climate change and pollution one tree at a time.
Clearly, Amazon is committed to offsetting the negative environmental impacts of its business operations. The tech giant has taken many steps towards achieving a more sustainable existence and enables you, the consumer, to also participate in the same cause. Now, let's look at the many options available to you to shop more sustainably on Amazon.
Climate Pledge Friendly
This is one of the first things to do when shopping in a more sustainable way on Amazon. All you have to do is look for the little green Climate Pledge Friendly badge under the product listing. No matter what you're buying, if it has been certified as environmentally friendly under The Climate Pledge requirements, Amazon will print that little green logo under the item's name.
1. Go to amazon.com/climatepledgefriendly.
2. Search for the product of your choice. You can also use the Climage Pledge Friendly filter on the left to narrow down the results.
3. Look for a listing with the green Climate Pledge Friendly badge or that lists a sustainability feature (or more than one). If you tap on sustainability feature, you'll see a pop-up on the right side that outlines what they are. It could be that the item was made with a certain percentage of recycled materials or that it is Certified Climate neutral by a third-party organization.
4. Click on the Climate Pledge Friendly product listing.
5. Add the product to your cart and check out.
Amazon Aware
Another excellent option for a greener buying experience is Amazon Aware. All you have to do is go to the Amazon Aware online store. There are plenty of household and lifestyle items on offer, including bed sheets, clothes, and beauty products. All the things you see under the Amazon Aware store are Climate Pledge Friendly certified in addition to being carbon neutral.
Amazon Aware products are made of organic, natural ingredients. Many of these options are recycled or constructed with recycled materials. They also likely come in recycled packaging. Here's how you can purchase your desired products from Amazon Aware.
1. Go to amazon.com/amazonaware.
2. Go through the product departments.
3. Browse through the items on sale and select whatever you need.
4. Add the items you want to your cart and check out.
Amazon Renewed
Going green can mean many things. Instead of purchasing new products, you can get used ones that have been refurbished so that the materials do not go to waste. Buying refurbished or renewed goods is a sustainable way of living as you prolong the lifespan of an item instead of dumping it in the trash. This is especially true when it comes to renewed electronics as your purchase reduces electronic waste. If you have your doubts, remember that the best refurbished phones are in such excellent condition, you won't even notice the difference between old and new.
Amazon ensures that each Amazon Renewed product meets stringent requirements and doesn't take anything away from your user experience. As a bonus point, refurbished electronics are much cheaper than brand new ones, saving you some cash while also helping to preserve the environment. For your mental assurance, all Amazon Renewed electrical gadgets come with a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. Here's how you can buy Amazon Renewed electronics.
1. Go to amazon.com/renewed.
2. Look for whatever electronic item you need to buy.
3. Add the electronics of your choice to your cart and check out.
Amazon Warehouse
When looking for preloved items that aren't electronic, the best place on Amazon is the Amazon Warehouse store. Starting from pet supplies to baby products, from kitchen items to video games, Amazon Warehouse has it all. The items on sale under this category include pre-owned, used, and open-box products.
For your safety, Amazon inspects all Amazon Warehouse goods for quality assurance. If you aren't satisfied with your purchase despite Amazon's 20-point quality inspection, know that you are covered by a 30-day return policy. Let's look at how you go about shopping from Amazon Warehouse.
1. Go to amazon.com/amazonwarehouse.
2. Browse through the product categories.
3. Select the products you want by adding them to your cart.
4. Check out once you have all you need.
Amazon Trade-in
If you're the sort of person who doesn't want to purchase used or refurbished products, there is another option. Shopping sustainably on Amazon doesn't always lead to preloved or renewed items. Under the Amazon Trade-in program, you can trade-in your own used electronics for Amazon gift cards and/or promotional discounts. The Amazon Trade-in procedure varies depending on what it is that you want to trade-in.
After you have selected your device under the Amazon Trade-in section on the Amazon website, you'll have to answer some questions about it to confirm its condition and value. The answers to your questions determine the value you will get and how fast you will get it. For instance, certain items qualify for instant payment, while others may not yield you any monetary gain until you've sent them in for appraisal.
What's really great is that shipping your used electronic gadgets to Amazon doesn't cost you anything. Even if the item is worth nothing, Amazon will ship it back to you free of charge. All you have to do is print the shipping label and send it in. Here's how you can initiate the Amazon Trade-in process.
1. Go to amazon.com/tradein.
2. Select the device category that matches your item.
3. Read and follow the Amazon Trade-in instructions for your specific device.
Do your part!
There are plenty of ways you can do your part for the Earth, including many options when shopping on Amazon. In most cases, these methods also help you save money, which is a win-win in the end. Plus, you get fabulous new products, from electronics to appliances, bedding to baby gear, that's new, or in like-new, condition. But most important, you can feel at ease that you are helping the environment and shopping more sustainably.
