Amazon India has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop innovative packaging materials made from agricultural waste, aiming to reduce dependence on virgin wood pulp while tackling the issue of stubble burning in the country.
Under the collaboration, researchers will work on converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp to produce strong, lightweight paper mailers that are recyclable and home-compostable. The research, led by IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, will begin with laboratory-scale testing over a 15-month period. If successful, the project will move to industrial trials and commercial production by mid-to-late next year.
Amazon India said the initiative could help create an additional revenue stream for farmers by providing a structured market for agricultural residues while also reducing reliance on imported wood pulp. The company added that more than half of its customer orders in India are already shipped using original or reduced packaging, and it has eliminated single-use plastic packaging across its fulfillment centers since 2019. In Gangtok, the eco-friendly packaging innovations could gradually lower packaging costs and improve sustainable delivery practices, particularly in hill regions where waste disposal remains a major environmental challenge.