Amazon pilots bio-based bags for grocery deliveries in Spain

Amazon has introduced bio-based bags made from vegetable-derived materials for grocery deliveries in Spain. These bags, developed by Italian materials company Novamont, part of Versalis (Eni), in collaboration with Amazon’s materials scientists, are being trialled in Valencia for Amazon Fresh orders.

The bags are made using renewable resources such as corn starch and vegetable oils sourced from Europe. Designed to be durable, food-safe, and resistant to rain and spillages, they offer an alternative to traditional fossil-based plastics used in food packaging. The material, known as Mater-Bi™, is biodegradable and does not contribute to microplastic pollution.

During the trial, customers in Valencia can return the bio-based bags to Amazon drivers. Local recycling partners then mechanically recycle the returned material, which is processed into pellets and reused by Novamont to create new bags.

Feedback from the trial so far has been positive, with 75% of customers expressing satisfaction with the new packaging. Many cited the biodegradability and reusable nature of the bags as key benefits.

Alan Jacobsen, Amazon's Materials & Energy Sciences Director, said: Our new Amazon Fresh bio-based bags provide protection against spills and condensation to keep grocery orders safe for our customers, and at the same time are less impactful for the planet because they are made from renewable, food safe materials derived from plants, like corn starch and vegetable oils.

Unlike most petroleum-based plastic bags, these materials have the potential to be more efficiently recycled, while also being able to naturally degrade in a composting environment.

The results of this trial will help Amazon evaluate the potential for scaling up the use of bio-based bags across its operations.