Amazon Partners IIT Roorkee to Turn Agricultural Waste Into Sustainable Packaging

Amazon India has announced a strategic collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop next-generation packaging materials made from agricultural waste. The initiative focuses on creating non-wood paper technology that diverts crop residue away from burning while reducing dependence on virgin wood pulp.

The proposed packaging solutions are designed to be lightweight, strong, recyclable, and home-compostable, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional wood-based paper and plastic packaging.

Turning Crop Residue Into High-Performance Packaging

Wheat Straw and Bagasse at the Core of Research

The research will focus on converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp that can be used to manufacture paper mailers with performance comparable to conventional paper packaging.

By creating a productive use for agricultural waste, the initiative directly addresses stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution in several parts of India.

Reducing Imports and Supporting Farmers

In addition to environmental benefits, the project aims to:

• Reduce dependency on imported virgin wood pulp

• Create additional income opportunities for farmers by generating demand for agricultural residues

• Strengthen India’s domestic supply chain for sustainable packaging materials

Research Timeline and Commercial Roadmap

Lab-Scale Development at IIT Roorkee

The collaboration will be led by IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, starting with lab-scale development and testing over a 15-month period.

If the materials meet performance and durability benchmarks, Amazon will support:

• Industrial trials

• Process validation

• Commercial production

Commercial rollout is targeted for mid to late next year, subject to successful testing.

Leadership Perspectives on Sustainability

Amazon India on Circular Economy Goals

Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations at Amazon India, said:

“At Amazon, we are building and managing India’s fastest, safest, and most reliable operations network, and we’re committed to making it more sustainable. As part of this effort, we’re partnering with IIT Roorkee to develop innovative packaging from crop residue. 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.”

IIT Roorkee on National Sustainability Priorities

Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant, Director IIT Roorkee, said:

“Sustainability is no longer a choice, it is an urgent national priority. This collaboration between IIT Roorkee and Amazon is a step towards realizing India’s vision of a circular economy, aligned with government missions such as Swachh Bharat, Startup India, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy. 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, while creating scalable solutions that can benefit industries, farmers, and society at large. This initiative showcases how academic research and industry partnerships can accelerate India’s journey towards a more sustainable, and self-reliant future.”

Research Leadership at IIT Roorkee

INNOPAP Lab to Drive Innovation

The project will be led by:

• Prof. Vibhore Kumar Rastogi

• Dr. Anurag Kulshreshtha

Both are part of the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) at the Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, IIT Roorkee’s Saharanpur Campus.

Amazon India’s Broader Sustainability Efforts

Packaging Reduction and Plastic Elimination

Amazon India has already made significant progress in sustainable packaging:

• More than 50% of customer orders are shipped in original or reduced packaging

• Product packaging shipments cover 300+ cities

• 100% elimination of single-use plastic in packaging across fulfillment centers since 2019

Climate and Water Commitments

Amazon’s sustainability roadmap includes:

• The Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon by 2040

• Investments in carbon-free energy, electrification, circularity, AI, and packaging innovation

• A goal to return more water to communities in India than it uses in direct operations by 2027

Why This Collaboration Matters

This partnership brings together academic research expertise and large-scale industrial deployment, addressing some of India’s most pressing environmental challenges — air pollution, plastic waste, and reliance on virgin materials — while advancing the country’s circular economy ambitions.