Hi John,

Last week an explosive ITV investigation found that Amazon, one of the world's biggest and richest companies, was purposely destroying thousands of perfectly good items like laptops, hoovers, clothes and even unused PPE, every single week. [1] Many of these goods then end up in landfill and could go on to be burned.

The twisted logic behind the decision to destroy goods could be because Amazon thinks it’s cheaper to destroy things than repair them, keep them in its warehouse or donate them to people who need them. What’s good for Amazon’s bottom line, certainly isn’t good for the health of our planet. We’re in a climate crisis and we can’t afford for Amazon to put profit before common sense.

Over 100,000 people have signed the petition calling on Amazon to clean up its act. While this is a good start, we’re going to need even more people to support this campaign, so we have a chance of putting Amazon under some serious pressure to change their ways.

Can you speak out against Amazon’s senseless waste?

Thanks for all you do,

Aakash, Akshey and Dikson

Greenpeace

[1] Here’s the ITV investigation

PS: Below is the email I sent you last week.

PPS: If you are an existing or ex-employee with a story to tell about your experience of working at Amazon or in one of their fulfilment centres, please reply to this email so we can hear your story too.

Hi John,

Brand new laptops, TVs, books and other perfectly good products have been rolling straight off the production line, into an Amazon warehouse and then out to landfill.

A shocking investigation by ITV has revealed how millions of new, unused or returned goods are being marked for destruction by Amazon, with lots of items ending up in bins destined to be burned. [1]

It’s time for Amazon to stop this unnecessary destruction now and come clean about the true scale of its senseless waste. Can you sign this petition so we can pile on the pressure and give them nowhere to hide?

Amazon claims it's committed to being a zero waste organisation, but behind the grandstanding and greenwashing is a business model built on greed – with people and the planet paying the ultimate price. ITV’s investigation found a leaked document that showed more than 130,000 items that were marked “destroy” in one week in April. The same document found that just 28,000 items in the same period were labelled as “donate”.

The stuff that Amazon is marking for destruction is not even single-use, a lot of it has never been used at all. According to one account from a previous employee, Dyson fans and hoovers as well as Apple Macbooks and iPads have been sent to be destroyed. Other items headed for the bin included unopened and unused face masks meant to keep people safe from Covid-19.

The pandemic has shone a light on the hardship faced by many families. Thousands of children don’t have proper learning equipment like laptops or computers, and just months ago this country was plunged into a crisis where we had a chronic shortage of PPE. What Amazon is doing is not just foolish, or bad for the environment, it’s downright immoral.

Amazon has no excuses for allowing this unimaginable waste to continue - our planet can’t afford it. Can you join us in pushing back at this senseless waste and sign this petition?

Whilst Amazon has billions of pounds, a slick PR machine and lots of lawyers, we have each other, and if we use our collective power to fight back against Amazon’s destruction, we can win.

Just imagine if we get Amazon to end its wasteful practices, it could force a real sea change across the country where companies can't just get away with throwing their responsibility in the bin.

It's time to put a stop to this mess right here, right now. Can you join the fightback against destruction and waste, and force Amazon to clean up its mess?

Thanks for all you do,

Aakash, Akshey and Dikson

Greenpeace

PS: If you are an existing or ex-employee with a story to tell about your experience of working at Amazon or in one of their fulfilment centres, please reply to this email so we can hear your story too.

[1] Here’s the story ITV ran earlier this week

We don't accept any money from companies or governments so we can be independent and challenge anyone who threatens the planet or peace. To help us keep fighting climate change, defending our oceans and protecting ancient forests, you can become a monthly supporter today. Thank you!

To unsubscribe or change your communication preferences, please click here

You can find out how we use the information you give us in our recently updated Privacy Policy

Greenpeace Ltd, Canonbury Villas, London N1 2PN (registered in London no 1314381, VAT registration no 625951426)

This email was sent to: [email protected]