January 18, 2021

Dear Jeff Bezos, 

2020 was a huge success for Amazon. Over $404 billion in sales, over 169 million customers, roughly fifty percent of all e-commerce sales. Congratulations - you helped keep the country running during a pandemic! 

But it was a tough year for us. The residents of Marin County were handed a bill for $12 million to dispose of Amazon packing materials; U.S. residents had a $14.6 billion bill. And I don't need to go into the environmental costs - you're more than aware of those.

Amazon is one of the most innovative, customer-centric companies on the planet. Maybe the most. Yet it feels stuck when it comes to the issue of packaging. Single-use feels so Amazon 1.0.

We have no doubt that you're working on this. And we're offering to help in any way that makes sense. Our county is prepared to be a guinea pig to pilot any new approach that could solve the problem. 

We're suggesting a Pickup and Reuse Program. To us, it seems the most simple, most efficient solution. 

But there might be other solutions that you're considering. Count us in. Let us be your beta test. Heck we'll be your alpha - we just want to get moving!

As always we're standing by to hear your response. And to jump into action. Let's do this together!

Best Regards, 

Carolyn Lund, Committee, Amazon to Reuse Boxes Initiative, carolynelund@gmail.com, (415) 717-4656

Letter written in collaboration with Vikki Garrod, Chief Communications Officer, Marin Community Foundation.  Posted to Amazon via fed ex and email on 1/18/21.