Amazon customers in the region are set to notice a significant change in their deliveries as the company’s Sutton Coldfield fulfilment centre is equipped with new automated packaging technology. The Peddimore facility, located on the outskirts of Sutton Coldfield, is one of 18 UK hubs that will benefit from this innovation, which creates custom-made cardboard boxes and paper bags to reduce packaging waste.
Key Features of the New Technology
The automated packaging machines use machine learning and sensors to measure item dimensions and produce right-sized packaging, minimizing excess material while ensuring product protection. This technology not only enhances delivery efficiency but also reduces emissions by maximizing vehicle space and eliminating waste. According to Pat Lindner, Amazon’s Vice President of Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging, “To reduce waste, we need to reduce packaging. We’re now installing automated packaging machines in our facilities across the UK and Europe to better serve our customers and the planet.”
Environmental Impact
The new packaging system offers several environmental benefits:
- Reduces packaging waste by creating made-to-fit boxes and bags
- Minimizes material use and eliminates unnecessary packaging
- Enables more deliveries with fewer vehicles, lowering emissions
- Uses recyclable, lightweight paper packaging that is up to 90% lighter than similar-sized cardboard boxes
Amazon plans to expand the use of these machines across Europe, with 70 installations scheduled for this year and more to follow in 2027. The company has already seen significant results from its packaging innovations, having reduced average per-shipment packaging weight by 43% since 2015, equivalent to avoiding over three million metric tons of packaging waste.
The image shows Amazon’s automated paper packaging machine creating made-to-fit bags, highlighting the company’s commitment to reducing packaging waste and improving delivery efficiency.
