We acknowledge that our industry significantly contributes to environmental and social challenges. However, we are committed to being part of the solution. We recognise the urgent need for change and are dedicated to transforming our practices to foster a more sustainable future. Our journey towards sustainability goes beyond mitigating our impact - it is also about actively galvanising our industry to make a positive and lasting change for the planet and its people.

Acting as an enabler

Transitioning to a more sustainable, equitable, and accessible future requires collective effort. Given Zalando’s position in the European fashion ecosystem, we are ready to step up and embrace our role as an enabler - acting as a catalyst, convener, and connector to drive progress among customers, brand partners, manufacturers, innovators, regulators, and our employees.

Partners and supply chain: We aim to maximise our impact by leveraging our strengths also to propel fashion brands and suppliers to attain their sustainability ambitions

Customers: We aim to empower customers to buy better, wear better, and feel better by choosing an assortment and brands that align with their values.

Innovators: We believe that a broader industry transformation can only happen through investment in technology and processes. We aim to support scaling industry innovators by enabling access to customers, brands, and financing.

Regulators: We encourage and welcome EU policymakers to establish a consistent regulatory framework that will enhance consumer trust and protection and ensure a level playing field against unfair competitive practices.
 
Inside Zalando: Sustainability is woven into all aspects of what we do, both for impact and for accountability. With this, we aim to empower all Zalando employees to embed sustainability into their mindset and daily work.

Our efforts to lead by example are underpinned by our two sustainability ambitions: Net Zero and Decent Work.

Our ambitions

Net Zero by 2040 for Own Operations and Private Labels, and Net Zero by 2050 for the remaining company value-chain emissions (which include fashion brand partners, packaging and transportation emissions)

We further empower workers through Decent Work by deepening human rights due diligence in our operations and those of our partners, as well as further evolving our purchasing practices and wage management systems in our Private Labels by 2028.

Science Based Targets

As a key milestone to our net-zero strategy, the following targets were validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and published in May 2025. 

Near-term targets: Zalando commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 55% by 2033 from a 2022 base year. Zalando also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution 33% within the same timeframe.

Long-term targets: Zalando commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by 2040 from a 2022 base year. Zalando commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, and upstream transportation and distribution emissions 90% by 2050 from a 2022 base year.

In accordance with SBTi Net Zero standard criteria, we aim to reduce our GHG emissions across scopes by 90% by 2050 (2022 baseline) at the latest through abatement. We aim to neutralise the residual emissions through carbon removals. 

In addition to our SBTi validated targets, we aim to reduce emissions by 90% by 2040 (2022 baseline) for our private labels. 

Our climate progress so far 

Our net-zero targets replace Zalando’s first generation climate targets, which run until 2025. As of 2024, we reduced scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 82% (versus 2017). In our private labels, we achieved an economic intensity reduction of -48%GHGs/ million euros gross profit (versus 2018).

Additionally, we have actively worked together with our partners to support them in setting and achieving climate targets. As of 2024:

• 70.5% of our suppliers within the scope of our target set SBTs, compared to 64.8% in 2023. 
• Brand partners with set SBTs accounted for 70.0% of our brand supplier-related emissions, up from 65.2% in 2023. 
• Packaging partners who set SBTs increased to 74.5%, up from 59.7% in 2023. 
• Last-mile delivery partners who set SBTs increased to 76.9%, up from 59.6% in 2023.

For more details on our actions, consult our integrated annual report 2024. 

Our progress