Kara Hurst

Kara Hurst leads the development and evolution of sustainability and social responsibility at Amazon worldwide. Utilizing Amazon’s scale, speed and innovation, Hurst’s teams focus on Amazon’s key social and environmental opportunities across all of Amazon’s business areas globally. Our programs include responsible supply chain management, social responsibility in Amazon operations, Frustration Free Packaging and eCommerce packaging standards, renewable energy and energy efficiency, eWaste, product take-back, hazardous waste, and social and environmental policy setting.

Hurst leads the Worldwide Sustainability team, overseeing the company’s transition to more sustainable operations, transport, renewable energy, sustainable products, packaging and shopping, and Amazon's commitment to The Climate Pledge, which was co-founded in 2019 and set intention to be net-zero carbon by 2040.

She currently serves on the Boards of Water.org and Stolen Youth.

Previous to Amazon, Hurst served as the CEO of The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) – named one of Scientific American’s "Top Ten World Changing Ideas" of 2012. With over $2.4 trillion in revenue, TSC members consist of leading corporations, NGOs, Universities and government and regulatory agencies. Through this network, TSC members form a global, collaborative network focused on building a foundation of scientifically based business tools to drive improvements in consumer product sustainability.

Previous other work includes: as a founding member of the EICC, Hurst initiated the original EICC working group, bringing together six large technology companies, and facilitated the industry initiative in responsible supply chain management through its first several years, including constructing the Code of Conduct. Hurst also applied this concept to other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, to establish meaningful industry partnerships such as the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI). Hurst worked with GE’s corporate citizenship team for eight years as well as Hyatt’s executive team to build their first CSR platform.