Amazon launches climate-friendly program, Textile Exchange signs up

Amazon.com, the world’s biggest online retailer, announced the launch of a climate-friendly program on Wednesday to help customers shop for sustainable products, as part of its commitment to be net carbon neutral by 2040.

Customers will now see more than 25,000 products ranging from grocery, household, fashion, beauty and personal electronics with a ‘Climate Pledge Friendly’ label, Amazon said in a statement.

“With 18 external certification programs and our own Compact by Design certification, we’re incentivizing selling partners to create sustainable products that help protect the planet for future generations,” Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos said.

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Amazon, which delivers about 10 billion items a year and has a massive transportation and data center footprint, had faced protests from environmental activists and was under pressure from its employees to take action on climate change.

The company had said in June it would launch the Climate Pledge Fund, a $2 billion venture capital fund that will invest in companies across industries to help reduce the impact of climate change and support sustainable development.

Last year, Bezos had pledged to make Amazon net carbon neutral by 2040 - the first major corporation to announce such a goal - and to buy 100,000 electric delivery vehicles from US vehicle design and manufacturing startup Rivian Automotive LLC.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Textile Exchange also said it's participating in the new program. The global non-profit group develops, manages, and promotes a suite of leading industry standards in the sustainable fiber and materials industry, as well as collects and publishes industry data and insights that enable brands and retailers to measure, manage, and track their use of preferred fiber and materials.

Its membership represents leading brands, retailers, and suppliers.

Ashley Gill, Director of Standards at Textile Exchange, said: “Amazon’s high bar for choosing certifications align with Textile Exchange’s commitment to rigorously and transparently certify consumer products. Amazon’s new program will encourage brands and manufacturers to manufacture and source more sustainably, get certified, and grow their product selection.”

The selection for Climate Pledge Friendly includes grocery, household, fashion, beauty and personal electronics products, as well as other items from a range of categories.

Additional reporting by Sandra Halliday