Amazon Drives Environmental and Social Change in Mexico

Amazon’s efforts in areas such as achieving net zero emissions, promoting circular economy practices, and fulfilling social responsibilities have made the company a regional benchmark in ESG initiatives, says Julio Valle, Sustainability Leader, Amazon Mexico. "Protecting the environment is no easy task, but Amazon is tackling the challenge of climate change head-on through local actions with global impact," he stated in an interview with El Universal.

In 2019, Amazon co-founded and became the first signatory of The Climate Pledge, an initiative aimed at reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement deadline. This initiative has garnered support from 474 companies across 59 industries and 42 countries, including two Mexican firms: Bioconstrucción y Energía Alternativa (BÉA), specializing in sustainable building and certification, and Precision QA, a technology company focused on the financial sector.

In 2023, Amazon invested in over 100 new clean energy projects, maintaining its position as the world's largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy for the fourth consecutive year. With over 500 wind and solar projects globally, Amazon expects to generate more than 77,000GWh of clean energy annually, sufficient to power 7.2 million homes in the United States. The company aims to power 100% of its operations with renewable energy sources by 2025.

Locally, Valle underscored Amazon's ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency in Mexico through upgrades in building materials, equipment, and technology to reduce energy consumption. He also stressed the importance of developing tailored public policies and incentives to foster infrastructure development in various countries. Through projects like Laneshift, Amazon has donated over US$10 million to collaborate with local governments in Latin America, including Mexico City, to accelerate the decarbonization of last-mile transportation fleets and optimize travel routes.

Regarding the company's circular economy model, Valle highlighted the presence of waste separation facilities at all Amazon buildings and shipping centers in Mexico. "Our goal is to ensure that 100% of waste is diverted from landfills, and we are actively working to enhance recycling culture to achieve this objective," he explained. Furthermore, Amazon's Ship in Own Container (SIOC) program delivers eligible items in the manufacturer's original packaging without additional Amazon delivery boxes. In Mexico, the company has achieved around 8% of domestic shipments delivered in its own packaging. Thanks to these and other global actions, over 2Mt of delivery packaging have been avoided worldwide since 2015.

In the realm of social responsibility, following its good neighbor philosophy, Amazon seeks to have a positive effect on the communities where the company is located, focusing on population needs such as food, education, and job creation. In 2023, the organization collaborated with the Mexican Network of Food Banks (BAMX) to donate 4,000 food packages to local families where Amazon operates. It also donated 40t of basic grains such as beans, rice, and lentils through BAMX to support 18 local food banks.

Ricardo Moran, Community Engagement Manager, Amazon Mexico, highlighted the company's readiness to support local communities and charitable organizations, empowering employees to contribute to causes they care about through donations and volunteer activities. Last year, after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero, the company, in collaboration with the Red Cross, sent over 103,000 essential products to the affected. Likewise, during the water shortage in Monterrey, support was provided to about 400 families with 18,000L of water thanks to volunteer work.

Addressing sustainability challenges in Mexico, Valle stressed the importance of science-based solutions and called on other companies to join Amazon's sustainability agenda. "While we leverage our scale and innovation drive, collaboration remains essential for advancing our sustainability goals in Mexico," he emphasized.