Why Amazon is throwing away millions of unused products – and how we can stop them
Overproduction is a massive contributor to ecological destruction. For my capstone focusing on recycling methods and reducing waste understanding the issues that lead to our landfills could influence my solution space.
Every week Amazon – the world’s biggest online retailer – sends tens of thousands of brand new laptops, TVs, books and other perfectly good products straight into landfill, or to be destroyed.
A shocking investigation by ITV has revealed how millions of new, unused or returned goods are ending up in bins destined to be dumped and burned. According to one account from a previous employee, the company sends Dyson fans and hoovers as well as Apple Macbooks and iPads to landfill or to be destroyed. Other items headed for the bin included unopened and unused face masks meant to keep people safe from Covid-19. (Abelvik-Lawson)
This massive backlog of waste is not always broken or unusable. Yet, when it comes down to it, trashing products are more beneficial for companies because of many factors that usually center on profits.
ITV’s investigation found a leaked document that showed more than 130,000 items that were marked “destroy” in one week in April, in one UK warehouse. The same document found that just 28,000 items in the same period were labelled “donate”. While Amazon clearly tries to do the right thing by donating some of the goods it doesn’t need – the scale of the amount being donated dwarfs the amount being trashed.
The practice of destroying unsold stock isn’t really new. Fashion companies have long been known to burn unsold or returned stock. In fact, most corporations making consumer products have a major problem with overproduction and oversupply – often leading to shockingly wasteful practices. (Abelvik-Lawson)
From the company’s perspective, it is important to keep the supply and demand of their products in balance. Burning these overstock items may feel necessary to uphold their air of luxury. Environmentally speaking, burning these things is a dangerous form of disposal, because many unsafe chemicals are released into the air.
...in Germany there are laws to stop Amazon from destroying new products. But early investigations from Greenpeace Germany show that the company is already finding ways around this – like forcing workers to cut up clothing so the company is legally allowed to destroy it. (Abelvik-Lawson)
There are laws trying to prevent these harmful practices, yet rules have loopholes. Companies will continue the practices that have the most benefits for themselves. That is why it is important to push other factors, like social pressure, into the equation. Hopefully one day environmentally conscious practices will be the most beneficial choice for all.
Exposing the company’s awful policy to destroy millions of items of unsold stock will make a huge difference in forcing a change. And pushing Amazon to do better will force other companies to think more carefully about their business models and waste management plans. (Abelvik-Lawson)
Abelvik-Lawson, Helle. “Why Amazon Is Throwing Away Millions of Unused Products – and How We Can Stop Them.” Greenpeace UK, 13 Nov. 2024, www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/stop-amazon-throwing-away-millions-unused-products/.
