Amazon has issued a $1 billion sustainability-focused bond as part of its new Sustainable Bond Framework, designed to stimulate investment in and fund a variety of social and environmental projects, including renewable energy, clean transportation, sustainable buildings, affordable housing and socioeconomic advancement and empowerment. For investors, bond issues like these present an easy way to boost their sustainability profile.
“At Amazon, we are committed to using our scale for good,” said the company in a statement announced the bond issue. “Amazon continues to stimulate investment in the development of green technologies and low carbon products and services that will enable companies of all sizes to decarbonize their operations.”
The company has made a number of commitments toward these causes, including:
- To reach net-zero carbon across Amazon by 2040;
- Placing an order for 100,000 electric delivery vehicles with Rivian as well as additional electric vehicle orders with Mahindra Electric and Mercedes-Benz;
- Powering its operations with 100% renewable energy by 2030. The company says they are on a path to achieve this five years early, by 2025;
- Making all Amazon shipments net-zero carbon, with a goal of delivering 50% of all shipments with net-zero carbon by 2030;
- Supporting the development of technologies and services that accelerate and facilitate the transition to a low-carbon economy through the Climate Pledge Fund;
- Investing in nature-based initiatives that increase carbon storage or avoid greenhouse gas emissions across the globe through the Right Now Climate Fund;
- Supporting housing affordability initiatives; and
- Increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups to enter the technology workforce through skills training programs.
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