Amazon India has announced a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop eco-friendly packaging materials made from agricultural waste, in a move aimed at advancing circular economy solutions and reducing dependence on conventional packaging inputs.
The initiative focuses on creating non-wood paper technology by converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp suitable for paper mailers. According to the company, the resulting packaging is expected to be lightweight, durable, recyclable, and home-compostable—offering a sustainable alternative to traditional wood-pulp paper and plastic packaging.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project could also generate an additional income stream for farmers by creating demand for crop residues that are often burned, contributing to air pollution. India produces nearly 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, highlighting the scale of the opportunity for material recovery and reuse.
The research programme, led by IIT Roorkee’s Department of Paper and Packaging Technology, will begin with laboratory-scale development and testing over 15 months. Subject to successful outcomes, Amazon plans to support the transition to industrial trials, process validation, and potential commercial production by mid-to-late next year.
Amazon India’s Vice President of Operations, Abhinav Singh, said repurposing agricultural waste into packaging can help build a more circular economy while reducing reliance on conventional raw materials. IIT Roorkee Director Kamal Kishore Pant emphasized that sustainability has become an urgent national priority and noted that industry-academic collaborations such as this align with national missions including Swachh Bharat, Startup India, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy.
The project will be led by Professor Vibhore Kumar Rastogi and Dr Anurag Kulshreshtha from the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) at IIT Roorkee’s Saharanpur campus, underscoring the growing role of research-driven partnerships in shaping sustainable packaging innovation in India.