Zalando launches a new Sustainability Strategy: do.MORE
"Less bad" is not good enough
With the vision to be a sustainable fashion platform with a net-positive impact for people and the planet, Zalando has launched its most ambitious sustainability strategy yet, called do.MORE. With the belief that "less bad" is not good enough anymore, the company now commits to a having a net-positive impact whereby the company gives back more to society and the environment than it takes. Furthermore, the company has committed to a net-zero carbon footprint in its own operations, all deliveries and returns.
Raising the bar
The focus on sustainability is nothing new to Zalando. In 2019, the company switched to having over 90% renewable energy across all locations, all shipping boxes and beauty bags were entirely made from recycled materials and shipping bags from 80% recycled plastics. But with the belief that doing less is not going to cut it anymore, the company aims to raise the bar to achieve net zero carbon emissions in all its operations.
A plan focused on Doing
To achieve net-zero carbon emissions and meet the Paris climate agreement for its own operations ahead of schedule, the company will get tougher on ethical standards for themselves and their partners, empower their workforce and grow their sustainable assortment to extend the lives of millions of fashion products. This plan is translated into three pillars, “Take a Stand”, “Style with Care” and “Shape Our Future”, with six concrete commitments.
With Zalando being Europe’s leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle, this forward-leaning commitment sets a great example for the wider industry. This makes perfect sense, not only from an ethical standpoint, but most notably from a commercial one as Zalando’s Co-CEO Rubin Ritter points out:
The fashion industry is facing sustainability challenges and we know we have been part of the problem. Going forward, our aspiration is to be part of the solution. We see a clear link between acting sustainably and continued commercial success. Only those who incorporate sustainability into their business strategy will stay relevant for their customers and we believe that it will be a competitive advantage in the future.
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