There is a new Amazon unsold inventory policy on the way this month. And it has come about following backlash over the shocking waste disposal practices which were exposed by ITV News.

In some cases new and unused items were being destroyed and sent to recycling centres or even landfill sites. They could have been donated to charities and other good causes instead.

Following the broadcast of the report and angry responses from the likes of Greenpeace, Amazon insisted that they are working towards a goal of zero product disposal but admit there’s work to do. 

Which leads us on to the new unsold inventory policy which we will soon be able to make use if we sell on the platform. And we answer the all-important questions:

What is the new policy and how does it work?

It is officially known as FBA Liquidations. Rather than having to pay to remove excess and customer-returned FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) inventory, the retailer will try and find a trusted buyer for the stock. It means that sellers will get some of their inventory cost back. They will receive payment within 60 days. The scheme is already in place in several European countries.

What type of products does this service apply to?

According to Amazon, items that are prohibited, past their expiry date, meltable, dangerous, restricted or that are below a certain selling price won’t be accepted. Only items that are marked as customer damaged, carrier damaged, or distributor damaged are eligible for liquidation. Anything that is expired, defective or warehouse damaged is not.

How will this help the environment?

The more items that can be resold, the fewer that end up in landfill. The fact that the buyers are hand-picked by Amazon offers sellers peace of mind. But the onus is on buyers to make Amazon aware they have items they want to cash in on. The recent introduction of the Right To Repair law should also encourage sales of spares and repairs, which some old items will be ideal for.

What other policies will Amazon introduce?

After the ITV investigation, they quickly set up the FBA Grade and Resell programme. Sellers can pass returned items to the scheme and Amazon will then evaluate it. The company will then decide which of the four standard conditions it fits best. These are: Used (Like New), Used (Very Good), Used (Good) and Used (Acceptable). It can then be resold.

Even with these new policies, there’s still a need for licensed and responsible waste collection companies like CBS Waste. We provide Waste Transfer Notices to our clients.

Contact us today for a quote on 01480 220434 or email info@cbs-waste.org.