Amazon Now Requires Companies to Use Less Packaging

Amazon packaging is wasteful. There's no way around it. Whether you order something large or tiny, the items always come packed in a box full of plastic and paper. Of course, the packaging keeps your order safe from damage, but it can be ridiculously excessive.

Well, that's about to change. Amazon is implementing a new rule that requires sellers to make packaging more compact and easier to open. Vendors have been aware of this rule since last fall, but Amazon says they need to make it happen by August 1st, according a report by The Wall Street Journal.

Ordering from Amazon like Prime subscribers do is a huge problem for the environment. Even though the materials are largely recyclable, so many items people recycle end up in a landfill anyway. This new initiative should cut back on the waste tremendously.