New Delhi, February 04, 2026: Amazon India has announced a research collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee to develop innovative packaging solutions using agricultural waste. The initiative aims to create non-wood paper packaging materials that reduce dependence on virgin wood pulp while addressing the challenge of crop residue burning in India.
The research focuses on converting agricultural residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp for paper-based mailers. These materials are designed to be lightweight, strong, recyclable, and home-compostable, offering an alternative to conventional wood pulp paper and plastic packaging.
By creating a value chain for crop residues, the project seeks to reduce stubble burning, lower reliance on imported virgin wood pulp, and potentially generate additional income opportunities for farmers by creating demand for agricultural waste.
The collaboration will be led by IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, beginning with laboratory-scale development and testing over a 15-month period. Subject to successful performance outcomes, Amazon will support the transition to industrial trials, process validation, and commercial-scale production, targeted for mid to late 2027.
Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations, 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.”
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 reliance on virgin materials in India, while creating scalable solutions that can benefit industries, farmers, and society at large.”
The research project will be led by Dr. Anurag Kulshreshtha at the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) within IIT Roorkee’s Saharanpur campus.
Amazon India stated that more than 50 percent of customer orders are already shipped using original or reduced packaging, and that single-use plastic has been eliminated from packaging across its fulfilment centres since 2019. The collaboration aligns with the company’s broader efforts to reduce packaging waste and advance circular material solutions.
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