Inditex, the Spanish owner of fashion brands Zara, Pull&Bear and Bershka, has announced new goals to reduce its emissions by more than 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040.
Chief executive Oscar García Maceiras, who replaced Armancio Ortega as chair last year, spoke at the retailer’s AGM, where he said the targets were “extremely ambitious”, according to reports in Drapers.
Other targets include ensuring 40% of fibres used by Zara and other Inditex brands come from recycling processes by 2030, building on previous targets to use more sustainable cotton, linen, polyester and wood pulp.
The business aims for roughly 25% “net-generation” fibres to be made by using waste products. It also said it would develop these with start-ups in a Sustainability Innovation Hub, while another 25% will be derived from organic or regenerative agriculture.
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In addition, Inditex has said it wants to continue extending circularity initiatives including Zara Pre-Owned – it has also pledged to support projects that support the protection, restoration or regeneration of up to 5m hectares, helping to upgrade their biodiversity.
The news follows an announcement by the European Commission that it is tightening regulations and requiring fashion companies to produce clothes more sustainably by 2028.
It comes as the fashion industry has grappled with claims of greenwashing, as well as allegations around cotton supply chains.
The move to improve sustainability comes as Zara has itself been rated “not good enough” on sustainability by the transparency website Good On You. It has also been criticised for continuing to cutting supplier rates following the pandemic.
Inditex chairperson Marta Ortega Pérez said the “magic of Inditex lies with our team and values, heavily influenced by self-imposed high standards”.
“The future is not predetermined, and we must never forget that,” she added.
