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During its recent Annual General Meeting, Zara's parent company, Inditex, outlined a comprehensive sustainability strategy, pledging to halve its value chain emissions by 2030 and attain net zero emissions by 2040. The fashion conglomerate, encompassing brands like Massimo Dutti and Bershka, focuses its environmental initiatives on four key areas, striving to minimize its ecological footprint.
Highlighting its dedication to sustainability, the group, which also encompasses brands like Massimo Dutti, Bershka, and Pull & Bear, shared that it has concentrated its sustainability projects into four major areas. This focused approach will facilitate the achievement of their targets. The AGM occurred at the company's headquarters in Arteixo, Northern Spain.
Inditex has refined its 2030 reduction strategy focusing on scope 1 and 2 emissions, aiming to reduce them by 90% from the 2018 baseline. Additionally, it plans to cut its value chain emissions (scope 3) by 50% compared to 2018.
To attain its "net zero" emissions goal by 2040, Inditex recognizes that offsets are necessary as certain greenhouse gas emissions are challenging to eliminate entirely. The company commits to using "preferred fibers," which refers to fibers or raw materials with a smaller environmental impact as defined by the Textile Exchange.
Inditex has added it to its list of priorities, acknowledging the importance of biodiversity. The company vows to restore, regenerate, or improve biodiversity across 5 million hectares. In line with this commitment, Inditex will donate 15 million euros to Conservation International's Regenerative fund for scaling up regenerative farming. Additionally, it has pledged 10 million euros to restoration projects in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund.
In an effort to reduce emissions and minimize its overall footprint, Inditex will introduce new materials. Approximately 30% of the company's emissions originate from the extraction and processing of raw materials, which negatively impacts natural resources like water and soil. The retailer aims to increase its utilization of organic and recycled cotton, European linen, and viscose sourced from trees to address this.
By 2030, Inditex aims to fully integrate materials with a lower impact. This includes sourcing 40% from conventionally recycled textiles and 25% from organic or regenerative farms. Furthermore, the company is investing in technology, intending to obtain 25% of its materials from next-generation sources that do not currently exist at an industrial scale.
Inditex's commitment to environmental sustainability is commendable and sets an example for the fashion industry as a whole. The company's strategic approach, dedication to renewable materials, and emphasis on biodiversity restoration demonstrate its determination to create a more sustainable future.
Photo: Ben Tofan/Unsplash
