How Amazon is Leading Supply Chain Sustainability

Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, is undertaking extensive work to promote sustainability throughout Amazon’s vast operations.

Her focus includes water stewardship, energy efficiency and the integration of AI within the corporate structure.

Her leadership oversees a complex value chain, influencing how one of the world's largest logistics networks manages its environmental impact.

Kara began her career in public service, serving as an Associate for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and as a Policy Analyst for Mayor Willie Brown of San Francisco.

She then transitioned into the private sector to focus on corporate responsibility. She spent over 11 years at BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), eventually becoming Vice President.

Driving global sustainability strategies

At BSR, Kara developed essential skills in strategy, budget and staffing while working alongside global multilateral partners.

Between 2012 and 2014, Kara served as CEO of The Sustainability Consortium, an organisation comprised of companies, academics and civil society organisations focused on product sustainability.

During her tenure, Kara managed technical research staff across the US, Europe and China, overseeing complex research that informs procurement and product standards.

In September 2014, she assumed her current role as Vice President, CSO, Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon.

She uses the massive scale of the company to lead the implementation of environmental sustainability and social responsibility across Amazon’s operations and value chain.

Kara writes on LinkedIn: “As Chief Sustainability Officer for Amazon, I lead the Worldwide Sustainability team, overseeing the company’s transition to more sustainable operations.

"This includes transport, renewable energy, sustainable products, packaging and shopping, and our commitment to The Climate Pledge, which we co-founded in 2019.”

Decarbonising the supply chain

As CSO, Kara leads the sustainability initiatives at Amazon, including the critical journey to decarbonise its supply chain.

By the end of 2024, the company had successfully reduced carbon emissions per shipped unit by roughly one-third since 2019.

This reduction was achieved through operational adjustments, such as offering shipping options that improve routing.

By combining products into a single delivery, the company avoided the use of more than 494 million boxes.

Furthermore, Amazon is expanding its fleet of EVs worldwide and achieved a milestone of 1.5 billion packages delivered by EVs in 2024.

Kara has worked to regionalise the company's logistics to reduce transport emissions and introduced sustainable packaging solutions to minimise waste.

In the company’s 2024 Sustainability Report, Kara says: “When we ask why sustainability matters, the answer is clear: Sustainability is not separate from our customer obsession – it’s an extension of it.

“Solutions that benefit the environment can create superior experiences for our customers and also become economic drivers that help strengthen communities and protect the planet.

“No matter what we’re faced with in the future, we’ll remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and will continue to invest, innovate and obsess over our progress.”

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable procurement leaders should attend:

• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
  
  
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22
  

Co-located with Sustainability LIVE, these events brings together CPOs, CSCO, CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Collaborating on water solutions

Most recently, Kara helped launch Get Blue alongside Water.org at the WEF annual meeting in Davos.

Get Blue is a partnership between Water.org, Amazon, Gap, Ecolab and Starbucks that aims to solve the global water crisis.

The initiative aims to bring water solutions to 200 million people by 2030.

It is designed to accelerate access to safe water and sanitation through aligning business leadership and funding behind Water.org's solutions.

Each company involved will work to provide products, content and experiences to help fund water access strategies.

Kara says: “The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness.

“This approach builds on Amazon’s aim to be a responsible water steward in communities – and water-stressed regions – where it operates.”

Each of the companies involved will work to provide products, content and experiences to help fund water access, taking advantage of their global network and reach.

Kara says: “The water crisis requires sustained, meaningful action and Get Blue is an example of what the private sector can do to help raise awareness and work together to drive solutions and impact.

“This approach builds on Amazon’s aim to be a responsible water steward in communities – and water-stressed regions – where it operates, as it works to reduce water use across its operations through investment, innovation and implementation.”

Kara was ranked in third position in our sister title Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Sustainability Leaders 2026.

Read the full Top 250 Sustainability Leaders list here.