Amazon, IIT Roorkee Partner to Turn Farm Waste into Sustainable Packaging
In a significant move to tackle agricultural waste and reduce packaging’s environmental footprint, Amazon India has entered a research collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee. Announced on February 4, 2026, the initiative aims to transform crop residues like wheat straw and bagasse into durable, recyclable paper mailers, offering an alternative to virgin wood pulp and plastic.
The project directly addresses India’s dual challenges of stubble burning—a major source of seasonal air pollution—and reliance on imported wood pulp. By creating a market for agricultural waste, the innovation promises environmental and economic benefits, supporting a circular economy and potentially generating additional income for farmers.
From Fields to Fulfillment: The Research Pathway
The collaboration will be spearheaded by Prof. Vibhore Kumar Rastogi and Dr. Anurag Kulshreshtha from IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology at its Saharanpur Campus. The 15-month project begins with lab-scale development to produce high-quality pulp from crop residue, aiming for performance parity with conventional packaging.
Subject to successful testing, Amazon will support scaling the technology to industrial trials and commercial production by late 2027. The envisioned paper mailers are designed to be lightweight, strong, and home-compostable.
A Commitment to Circular Economy and Sustainability
Executives from both institutions highlighted the partnership’s broader alignment with national sustainability goals. “At Amazon, we are committed to making our operations more sustainable,” said Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India. “India generates nearly 500 million tons of this waste annually, and by repurposing it into packaging, we can support a more circular economy while reducing reliance on conventional materials.”
Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is an urgent national priority,” he stated. “By transforming agricultural residues into biodegradable packaging materials, we are addressing the twin challenges of stubble burning and a reliance on virgin materials in India.”
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Broader Packaging Initiatives
This research builds on Amazon India’s existing efforts to minimize packaging waste. The company already ships over 50% of customer orders in their original or reduced packaging to more than 300 cities. Since 2019, it has eliminated 100% of single-use plastic from its fulfillment center packaging.
The project furthers Amazon’s global Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, which includes commitments to water positivity in India by 2027 and investments in renewable energy and logistics electrification.
