diff --git a/backend/docker/lambda.Dockerfile b/backend/docker/lambda.Dockerfile
index 1fd98a64..d41a6efc 100644
--- a/backend/docker/lambda.Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/docker/lambda.Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Pull base image
-FROM python:3.10.12-slim-buster
+FROM python:3.10.12-slim-buster as build-image
 
 # Set environment variables
 ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE 1
@@ -17,6 +17,21 @@ RUN pip install --upgrade pip
 # Install and clean up temp caches
 RUN pip install -r backend/requirements/base.txt && rm -rf /root/.cache
 
+# Since we are not using a base AWS image, there is some additional setup required. We need to set up the runtime
+# interface client
+# https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/python-image.html#python-image-clients
+# Additionally install the AWS Lambda RIC
+RUN pip install awslambdaric
+
+# Second stage: "runtime-image"
+FROM python:3.10.12-slim-buster
+
+# Set work directory to the root of your project
+WORKDIR /var/task/Model
+
+# Copy the python dependencies from the build-image
+COPY --from=build-image /usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/ /usr/local/lib/python3.10/site-packages/
+
 # Copy project files
 COPY ./backend/ ./backend
 COPY ./recommendations/ ./recommendations
@@ -30,12 +45,6 @@ COPY ./model_data/epc_attributes/ ./model_data/epc_attributes/
 COPY ./datatypes/ ./datatypes/
 COPY ./utils/ ./utils/
 
-# Since we are not using a base AWS image, there is some additional setup required. We need to set up the runtime
-# interface client
-# https://docs.aws.amazon.com/lambda/latest/dg/python-image.html#python-image-clients
-# Additionally install the AWS Lambda RIC
-RUN pip install awslambdaric
-
 # Set the ENTRYPOINT to the AWS Lambda RIC and CMD to your function handler
 ENTRYPOINT [ "/usr/local/bin/python", "-m", "awslambdaric" ]
 # Define the handler location