Sustainability and social responsibility are key priorities for Amazon Business.
The company works extensively with organisations to help them purchase products that exceed the environmental benefits of comparable products, while also disposing of products responsibly via Amazon’s sustainable product initiatives.
Amazon Business works with suppliers that support a more sustainable future and sets high standards for its own operations and supplier relationships. One of Amazon Business’ biggest targets is to reach net zero carbon across 50% shipments by 2030. In terms of supplier diversity, Amazon Business offers tools to help find and prioritise the likes of minority-owned, women-owned, small and local businesses to help organisations to meet their social responsibility goals.
Delving deeper into this topic is Natalia Montuori, Director at Amazon Business, who shares exclusively with CPOstrategy the role her organisation plays in driving significant impact through its commitment to sustainability, supplier diversity and inclusion.
To introduce yourself, can you give us a brief introduction to your role and Amazon Business?
Natalia Montuori: “I’ve been with Amazon for over 13 years and joined Amazon Business to dive into the world of business customers. I was excited by the thought of leveraging existing Amazon capabilities and the potential to invent new ones, while learning about a new range of customer needs.
“My role focuses on helping third-party sellers meet B2B needs, from Socially Responsible Purchasing to delivery solutions that align with ESG goals. I also lead services like restocking through live inventory management and vending machines, plus support B2B grocery. It’s all about inventing and adapting to serve businesses better.”
So what have you learned? How does Amazon Business help meet B2B needs?
Natalia Montuori: “At Amazon Business, we’re turning procurement into a strategic powerhouse. By automating routine tasks, we free up teams to focus on big-picture goals. Tools like Guided Buying (a Prime Business feature), approval workflows, and spend controls simplify operations, support compliance, and cut down on manual work. Centralised dashboards give leaders clear visibility across departments and budgets, making it easy to stay in control and scale efficiently.
“On top of that, consolidating spend and using analytics unlocks insights into purchasing trends, cost-saving opportunities, and better forecasting. Amazon Business helps organisations buy smarter, run leaner, and align procurement with their long-term goals.”
How do you see procurement evolving by 2030, particularly in the context of greener ambitions and the push for net-zero supply chains?
Natalia Montuori: “By 2030, procurement will move from being a cost centre to a hub of strategic influence, with the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) playing a central role in shaping organisational values and driving ESG impact. Some of this is already underway – advanced analytics are empowering teams to track progress on sustainability and diversity goals today, while AI and blockchain will bring unprecedented transparency to supply chains, making ethical and sustainable practices the norm. Sustainable sourcing and supplier diversity won’t just be priorities – they’ll be essential to fostering equity and environmental stewardship. As regulations evolve, procurement will lead the charge in adapting responsibly, transforming into a cornerstone of business success and a catalyst for meaningful societal change.”
I know that socially responsible purchasing is a key consideration for you at Amazon Business. Can you share how Amazon Business supports its customers’ sustainability goals?
Natalia Montuori: “We make more sustainable purchasing easy with over 2.2 million Climate Pledge Friendly products certified by organisations like EPEAT and EPA Safer Choice. Plus, initiatives like ‘Ships in Product Packaging’ cut down on waste by shipping items without extra Amazon packaging. These efforts are around helping businesses meet their sustainability goals while making a meaningful environmental impact.”
What are the biggest challenges companies face today in building ethical and sustainable supply chains, and how can they overcome them?
Natalia Montuori: “Building ethical and sustainable supply chains is no small task. The biggest roadblocks? Lack of visibility, which hides issues like unethical labour or environmental harm, and a maze of conflicting ESG rules across regions. Add to that the pressure to cut costs, and it’s easy for long-term sustainability goals to take a backseat.
“The fix? Help from AI. Smart tools can shine a light on hidden risks, flagging problems before they escalate. AI can also help support compliance requirements by cutting through the ESG red tape and help companies find cost-effective ways to stay sustainable. Partnering with like-minded suppliers and using AI to guide decisions can turn these challenges into opportunities to lead, innovate, and make a real impact.”
How should procurement leaders think about incorporating third-party sellers into their sourcing strategy, and where does Amazon Business fit in enabling that approach?
Natalia Montuori: “Third-party sellers are a strategic lever. They offer our customers more options, stronger cost positions, and strengthen supply chain resilience so organisations can move faster with less risk. The idea is to reduce single-source dependency, sharpen savings through competition, and tap into existing networks without lengthy onboarding. Amazon Business makes these connections between buyers and sellers possible at scale, with curated catalogs, guardrails, and real spend visibility that supports both compliance and savings – backed by business-only pricing and the reliability of integrated logistics. It’s a way to source smarter, not harder.”
Can you share a success story of a third-party seller on Amazon Business who has helped organisations support their procurement or sustainability goals?
Natalia Montuori: “One story that stands out to me is The Office Tex, founded by Rita Bonarrigo. She started by manually selling backup tapes to oil and gas companies in Texas – a process with limited reach. In 2018, she joined Amazon Business to scale her operations and quickly connected with buyers nationwide. As a certified Women-Owned Business, she gained visibility with organisations prioritising supplier diversity, driving 40% year-over-year revenue growth.
“Rita credits Amazon Business for guiding her team through the transition, saying, ‘Amazon [Business] could have said ‘sink or swim,’ but they held our hand all the way.’ Her small local business is now a nationally recognised operation, and stories like hers inspire us every day.”
How does Amazon Business support supplier diversity and inclusion initiatives?
Natalia Montuori: “It’s also a great example of how empowering underrepresented businesses can drive both growth and equity. At Amazon Business, we’re proud to play a role in fostering that kind of impact through our commitment to supplier diversity and inclusion. We make it easy to source from suppliers with diversity certifications – like minority-owned, women-owned, small and local businesses – helping organisations meet their social responsibility goals. Our tools simplify finding and prioritising these suppliers, driving equity while strengthening supply chains. It’s about aligning procurement with values and building a more inclusive, resilient future.”