Governance
We integrate sustainability practices into our everyday operations via goal-setting, metrics and quarterly business reviews.
Governance
How We Prioritise Our Work
At Amazon, we take a science-based, customer-centric approach to sustainability. We use a structured life-cycle assessment model to measure and map climate-related risks across our value chain. We also conduct regular materiality assessments to understand the most significant environmental, social and governance topics across our business over the short, medium and long term. We monitor risks and prioritise opportunities by taking into account customer and stakeholder expectations, voluntary practices and regulations, industry best practices, trends in financial and sustainability reporting, and emerging topics in news and social media.
Some of our current highest priority sustainability issues are:
Some of our current highest priority sustainability issues are:
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Climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable transportation
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Responsible employment and supply chain practices, including human rights and the safety and well-being of workers in our supply chain
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Fair and inclusive workplaces, including talent and development
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Waste, recycling and the circular economy
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Response to the COVID-19 pandemic and support for our customers, employees and communities

Our sustainability efforts reflect Amazon’s positions on certain issues. While our positions are carefully considered and deeply held, there is much room for healthy debate and differing opinions. We hope being clear about our positions is helpful.
Corporate Governance
Amazon’s Board of Directors oversee executives’ management of Amazon’s relevant risks and regularly reviews reports from management on various aspects of our business, including related risks and tactics and strategies for addressing them. While the full Board has overall responsibility for risk oversight, the Board has delegated responsibility related to certain risks to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee, and the Audit Committee.
- Nominating and Corporate Governance CommitteeThe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for overseeing management of risks related to our environmental, sustainability and corporate social responsibility practices, including risks related to our operations and our supply chain.
During the last year, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met with management and reviewed matters that included the Board’s composition, diversity and skills in the context of identifying and evaluating new director candidates to join the Board, the Board’s recruitment and self-evaluation processes, consideration of Amazon’s policies and initiatives regarding the environment and sustainability, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance, and feedback from Amazon’s shareholder engagement on the foregoing matters. - Leadership Development and Compensation CommitteeThe Leadership Development and Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing management of risks related to succession planning and compensation for our executive officers and our overall compensation programme, including our equity-based compensation plans, as well as risks related to other human capital management matters, including workplace safety, culture, diversity, discrimination and harassment.
During the last year, the Leadership Development and Compensation Committee met with management and reviewed matters that included the design, amounts and effectiveness of Amazon’s compensation of senior executives, management succession planning, our benefit and compensation programmes, our human resources programmes, including review of certain workplace discrimination and harassment reports, worker safety and workplace conditions, and feedback from shareholder engagement.
Workplace safety and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been significant topics of discussion and oversight at those meetings since the onset of the pandemic. In addition, the Committee, as well as the full Board, reviewed Amazon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and our actions to address and mitigate the pandemic’s impact on employees in regularly scheduled calls throughout 2020, reflecting the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic was significant to so many aspects of our operations that the updates should be provided to the entire Board. - Audit CommitteeThe Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing management of risks related to our financial statements and financial reporting process, data privacy and security, business continuity and operational risks, the qualifications, independence and performance of our independent auditors, the performance of our internal audit function, legal and regulatory matters, and our compliance policies and procedures.
During the last year, the Audit Committee met with management and reviewed matters that included Amazon’s risk assessment and compliance functions, data privacy and security, public policy expenditures, treasury and investment matters, accounting industry issues, the reappointment of our independent auditor and pending litigation. The Audit Committee annually reviews Amazon’s US Political Engagement Policy and Statement and a report on our public policy expenditures. The Audit Committee also met with the auditors to review the scope and results of the auditor’s annual audit and quarterly reviews of Amazon’s financial statements.
In performing their job duties, Amazon.com employees should always act lawfully, ethically and in the best interests of Amazon.com. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics sets out basic guiding principles. Employees who are unsure whether their conduct or the conduct of their coworkers complies with the Code of Conduct should contact their manager or the Legal Department.
Amazon’s Public Policy Actions on Energy and Climate
As part of our sustainability efforts, Amazon advocates in support of public policy that advances access to and the expansion of clean energy, sustainable transportation and other decarbonisation solutions. Since 2016, Amazon has taken the following actions in support of promoting clean energy and addressing climate change.
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April 2021
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March 2021
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January 2021
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December 2020
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December 2020
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September 2020
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July 2020
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April 2020
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January 2020
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December 2019
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August 2019
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June 2019
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June 2019
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May 2019
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February 2019
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December 2018
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November 2018
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November 2018
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September 2018
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December 2017
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December 2017
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October 2017
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October 2017
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June 2017
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February 2017
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April 2016
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April 2021
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March 2021
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January 2021
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December 2020
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December 2020
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September 2020
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July 2020
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April 2020
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January 2020
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December 2019
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August 2019
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June 2019
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June 2019
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May 2019
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February 2019
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December 2018
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November 2018
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November 2018
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September 2018
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December 2017
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December 2017
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October 2017
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October 2017
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June 2017
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February 2017
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April 2016
Standards and Statements
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Reporting StandardsDownload indices of Amazon’s public content according to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), UN Guiding Principles (UNGP) Reporting Framework and UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
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Modern Slavery StatementAmazon does not tolerate modern slavery. Our Modern Slavery Statement is in compliance with the requirements of the United Kingdom Modern Slavery Act, the Australia Modern Slavery Act and the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act.
Latest news
See how we put our scale and inventive culture to work on building a sustainable future.
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Amazon’s Sustainability Data Initiative is helping climate research become more inclusive by providing free access to data.
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Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly programme makes it easier for customers to shop from UK small businesses who are meeting sustainability standards.
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The 12-week programme is designed to boost early-stage startups creating sustainability-focused products.