Sustainability Progress Report 2021
Sustainability Progress Report 2021
"In this report, we show we have made progress on some dimensions but are still in testing mode on others.
Most importantly for us, sustainability has moved well beyond being an “on top” investment, and has become a core consideration in everything we do."
David Schneider, ZALANDO SE, Co-CEO
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Facts and figures
We are on a journey – when it comes to sustainability, there are a variety of global, local and industry-wide opportunities and challenges that frame our actions.
What if we could decouple our environmental footprint from our growth?
Our commitments
- By 2025, we achieve our science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, including an 80% reduction in emissions from our own operations compared to 2017.
- By 2023, we design our packaging to minimize waste and keep materials in use, specifically eliminating single-use plastics.
Our progress
- Last year we continued our commitment to 100% renewable electricity, by sourcing renewable electricity, purchasing guarantees of origin and having solar panels on our fulfillment centers in Lahr and Verona. In addition, we switched the heating fuel in our German fulfillment centers to 100% biogas.
- In 2021, we started switching from shipping bags made with 80% post-consumer recycled plastic to paper shipping bags. The paper bags are made either from 100% recycled materials or a mix of recycled content and other responsible virgin fibre sources.
- In addition to paper bags, we are piloting alternatives to tape and the single-use plastic void fill to protect the contents of packages in our Zalando Lounge business. The paper void fill will be used across all Zalando Lounge warehouses by the first quarter of 2022.
"We really connect with and admire Zalando as a partner. We are both technology companies at heart and we have very similar views on the holistic benefits of trees. We believe reforestation can be a powerful medium to engage stakeholders and shape positive behavior."
Rebekah Braswell, CCO and founding member at Land Life Company
What if our products and services created lasting behavioral changes in customers?
Our commitments
- By 2023, we aim to generate approximately 25% of our GMV with more sustainable products.
- By 2023, we apply the principles of circularity in our Private Labels.
Our progress
- In 2021, we launched a second “redeZIGN for circularity” capsule collection, which includes a digital product passport for each item provided by New York based technology firm EON. Via a QR code in the label, customers can go to a product site to learn where the product was produced, how to care for it, repair it and how to trade it into Zalando.
- In 2021, we launched an innovative care and repair pilot in Berlin. We partnered with tech company Save Your Wardrobe. Customers can enter a one-stop shop and connect with local repair, cleaning and alteration providers.
- To help customers understand and engage with our sustainability assortment more easily, in 2021 we introduced an educational experience that displays the sustainability assortment corresponding to selected impact areas: water conservation, worker wellbeing, reusing materials, animal welfare, reducing emissions and extending the life of fashion. For this new browsing experience, we have mapped our existing sustainability criteria to these impact areas.
"Our partnership with Zalando is a great step towards proving the need for circular business models in the fashion industry. We are very excited to bring together our technology with the scale of Zalando to a growing aftercare market and make a positive impact on people’s wardrobe and the planet."
Hasna Kourda, CEO & Co-founder at Save your Wardrobe
What if as a platform we could ensure the highest possible ethical standards and accountability for ourselves and our partners?
Our commitments
- By 2023, we will have supported 10,000 people in the workforce by providing skilling opportunities that match future work requirements.
- By 2023, we will have continuously increased our ethical standards and only work with partners who align with them.
Our progress
- Updated key policies; namely our Code of Conduct, Social Standards (for logistics and customer care), Sustainable Sourcing Policy, Animal Welfare Policy and Product & Content Guidelines.
- Introduced new tracking processes in contract management systems to ensure that all our business partners agree to our Code of Conduct.
- Conducted a human rights risk assessment in all our internal business units.
- We implement skilling opportunities in our upstream supply chain. In 2021, we launched an upskilling pilot for our supply chain with our partners Shimmy Technologies and BSR’s HERproject™. The program, developed in a Bangladesh factory, is focused on six key themes: IT literacy, efficiency training, gender roles, financial literacy, workplace communication and health & wellbeing, including COVID-19 awareness.
"At HERproject we are delighted to be a part of the innovative partnership with Zalando and Shimmy which allow us to explore ways to support workers, with a particular focus on women workers, with digital literacy skills, soft skills and automation training skills in one program."
Christine Svarer, Director of HERproject
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