NC State, Amazon Partner on Packaging Sustainability

Two professors from NC State, Joel Pawlak, and Richard Venditti, have partnered with Amazon to enhance the sustainability of packaging by developing a paper-based alternative to plastic-padded shipping envelopes. Amazon has provided $150,000 in funding to support their research, which focuses on using fibers from recycled textile waste, particularly cotton, in combination with paper fibers.

Their goal is to create strong, recyclable, and biodegradable packaging that addresses the growing issue of plastic pollution and textile waste. This initiative aligns with Amazon’s broader efforts to phase out plastic-based packaging in favor of eco-friendly alternatives.