Jordan Mailata knows a thing or two about protection. As a Left Tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Australian NFL Super Bowl champion has spent his career making sure nothing gets through. Now, he's bringing that same determination to a very different kind of challenge — tackling packaging waste as Amazon Australia's ‘Packaging Reduction Officer'.
"The most sustainable packaging is no added packaging at all, — but some things need extra protection to make it to the endzone," says Jordan. "And that's where I step in. My role is to make sure your package arrives in perfect condition, using as little packaging as possible."
In his new position, Jordan is working alongside the Amazon Australia team, which is constantly finding ways to use better packaging materials — and less of them. Many of the millions of products Amazon delivers every week can be shipped safely in their original packaging, without an additional Amazon box or envelope. Products are carefully assessed and tested to ensure they have the right protection to reach customers undamaged, with lightweight, minimal packaging used when needed.
Today, one in 10 orders shipped from an Amazon fulfilment centre in Australia is delivered in just its original packaging. Since 2021, Amazon has more than tripled the number of orders to Australian customers with no added delivery packaging. The company has also stopped packing products in single-use plastic delivery bags and envelopes, with limited exceptions — customers now receive packages in flexible paper bags and padded envelopes, which can be recycled in household recycling bins across Australia.
“While I’m used to life as a Left Tackle, it turns out I’m just as good at tackling packaging waste problems too," Jordan says. "Like most Australians I care about my impact on the environment and reducing waste. I hadn’t realised how much work Amazon puts into making its delivery packaging more sustainable, so it’s been awesome to join the team here and help shine a light on the progress they’re making.”
Matt Benham, Country Manager at Amazon Australia, says Jordan was a natural fit for the role. “We know our customers care about reducing waste, and so do we. We're focused on eliminating delivery packaging where we can, reducing it where we can't, and improving recyclability across the board. Jordan is the best there is at tackling problems on the field — and he's proven just as capable in the FC."
Amazon has also introduced a range of other sustainable packaging solutions in Australia, including recyclable box material, paper dunnage replacing plastic air pillows, and water-activated tape — all of which can go straight into the kerbside recycling bin. Since 2015, our packaging reduction initiatives have helped us avoid more than four million tonnes of packaging globally.
To learn more about Amazon's commitment to sustainability, visit aboutamazon.com.au/planet.
Next up, Amazon Australia is investing over $750M in a new robotics fulfilment centre in Queensland.
