Zalando refreshes D&I strategy 

BERLIN, MARCH 5, 2026 // Zalando is introducing ‘Inclusive by design’, a refreshed approach ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion remain a fundamental part of its business and culture. The strategy is built on two pillars, each with three impact areas, which will help build a high performing business at Zalando, unlocking innovation, better decision-making and business impact.

More than just a social goal

The launch of Zalando’s do.BETTER strategy in 2021 officially established diversity and inclusion as a priority, collecting years of experience and expertise into a formal approach.

After five years, it is time to revisit the learnings and update the strategy. Moreover, the landscape of regulations, brand partner needs and customer expectations has evolved since then. The insights gained shape what comes next, informing a more focused, embedded, and impactful approach. 

That’s why Zalando is updating its D&I strategy, incorporating past learnings, the latest findings and new developments - all while looking to the future. Building on the insights from before, we set targeted priorities across two pillars - ‘People’ and ‘Platform & industry’ - that contribute to empowered teams, informed decision making, greater innovation and remarkable experiences for customers and partners.

A welcoming workplace

Zalando is building an inclusive culture: It starts with inclusive leadership, making sure leaders set the tone and help create a culture where every employee feels safe and empowered. It also includes building equitable systems, designing fairer hiring and promotion processes that remove barriers for opportunity and creating an environment where a diverse pool of talents wants to stay and grow. Zalando continues to aim for ambitious ‘North Star’ targets for women in leadership and tech (the goal of attaining a 40-60% corridor for women across leadership levels and tech roles). At the same time, sustainable progress and cultural change are valued over perfection.

A leading platform and industry

For customers and partners, D&I is a powerful driver. Zalando has established itself as the market leader in Adaptive fashion and will expand this further in the coming years. Apart from offering an extensive Adaptive assortment, it also entails making the digital customer experiences smoother and accessible by design, both on web and app.
 
On top, customers need to see themselves reflected in the Zalando brand, through authentic representation in campaigns and storytelling. That’s how the company will be closing the gap between perception and reality, building a welcoming ecosystem that deepens loyalty and trust.

Making progress, moving forward

For Zalando, a resilient business is built on the foundation of a strong, inclusive culture, enriched by valuable collaborations with brand partners and the wider fashion community.