Amazon targets carbon emission cuts at grocery fulfillment centers

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Diving summary:

• As part of a three-facility pilot program with climate technology company Trane Technologies, Amazon has reduced energy use at its grocery fulfillment centers by nearly 15 percent, according to a Dec. 1 press release.
• The e-commerce giant deployed Trane Technologies’ BrainBox artificial intelligence tool along with Amazon Web Services at three North American food supply sites. The BrainBox system independently adjusts temperature control and ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• After the pilot, Amazon now plans to deploy the platform to more than 30 sites in its U.S. grocery distribution network and to install the tool in stores by 2026.

Diving Insights:

Amazon is using new technology to support a deeper push into the grocery space while pursuing sustainability goals.

“At Amazon, we’re constantly looking for data-driven and scalable solutions to reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining our operational excellence,” Cristina Minardi, vice president of worldwide grocery real estate sales development at Amazon, said in the release.

According to its website, the company is targeting carbon neutrality across its operations by 2040. However, according to its latest sustainability report, its carbon emissions in 2024 have increased by 6% year-on-year. The increase came after Amazon posted a 3% decline in 2023.

“Working with Trane Technologies and the BrainBox AI team, we’re turning our buildings into intelligent systems that learn and adapt, helping us meet our sustainability and performance goals in real time,” Minardi said.

Meanwhile, the company is piloting an in-store micro-fulfillment center at a Whole Foods Market store in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, which will tie the e-commerce giant’s whole business into its grocery arm’s operations.

The company is also relying on its logistics network to provide shoppers with more grocery delivery options, including expanding same delivery for perishable items to more than 1,000 cities and towns earlier this year.