A new report found that Amazon created 208 million pounds of plastic packaging in the U.S. in 2022, a nearly 10% increase over the previous year. 

The report comes from marine conversation group Oceana, with calculations based on market data and public announcements from Amazon. According to the group, Amazon's plastic use decreased in markets like India and Europe while it was increasing in its largest market in the U.S. Oceana also estimates that up to 22 million pounds of Amazon's global plastic packaging waste from 2022 likely has ended up polluting waterways and seas. 

“Amazon’s failure to reduce plastic in the U.S. is troubling," Oceana senior vice-president Matt Littlejohn said in a news release. "The company has dramatically reduced plastic packaging in other major markets including India and Europe. Why are U.S. customers being left behind?"

Amazon takes issue with the group's assessment, though. According to the Guardian, the company labels Oceana's analysis as "misleading," citing efforts to cut down on plastic use in global markets, as well as an Ohio-based automated fulfillment center designed to eliminate single-use plastic delivery packaging.

“Amazon is committed to reducing or eliminating packaging altogether, including the use of single-use plastic, and we’ve shown this by sharing consistent and transparent updates on our progress,” Amazon vice president of sustainable packaging Pat Lindner told the Guardian.