Rank a Brand

How sustainable is Zara ?

Zara & sustainability


Zara

10 out of 20

Sustainability summary

Brand owner: Inditex
Head office: A Coruña, Spain
Sector: Retailers
Categories : Male, Female, Kids
Free Tags: Zara, Bags, Pullover, Shirts, Suits, Jackets, Jeans, Dress, Shoes, Boots

Compare other brands

What's your sustainability news about Zara?

Zara sustainability score report

Last edited: 8 May 2013 by Niels
Last reviewed: 29 April 2013 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

1 out of 5
1. Is there a policy for the brand to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Inditex (brand owner of Zara) has various policy measures to reduce carbon emissions, such as installing sources of renewable energy and building eco-efficient stores (see link). Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Inditex (brand owner of Zara) publishes its carbon footprint. However, the 2011 footprint (354,776 tons COeq) has decreased by only around 6% compared to 2009 (377,286 tons COeq) (see link, page 262). Source
3. Is the efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions below 200 kg CO2-eq per square meter shopping floor per year, or does the brand use at least 25% green electricity for the shops? Zara is implementing an eco-friendly management model in its shops in order to reduce energy consumption by 20%, introducing sustainability and efficiency criteria. However, no concret information about an energy efficiency lower than 400 kg CO2e per square meter or the use of renewable energy to at least 25% is reported. Source
4. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its absolute ‘own operations’ carbon emissions by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Although Inditex has set up the Inditex ProKyoto project and has set the goal to reduce 20% of its Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with logistics and distribution by 2020, Inditex does not clearly communicate a reduction target for absolute emissions (see link, page 259). Source
5. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations (Scope 3)? Inditex does not communicate a policy to reduce the carbon emissions in the supply chain that is beyond own operations on its website (see link, page 259). Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 6
1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? Zara uses organic cotton for some selected lines, but it is unclear what the percentage is of organic cotton related to total production. Sustainability information should be easily accessible for consumers to make responsible choices. Source
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume? See remark for environmental policy question 1. Source
4. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothes and footwear? Zara has signed the Greenpeace Zero-Discharge Commitment. Companies that signed this document promise to 'eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of company's products, by 2020'. Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective policy to minimize environmental pollution of chromium and other harmful substances from leather tanning processes, e.g. by waste water treatment or by vegetable tanning? Zara is a member of Leather Working Group, but not clear if and what percentage is certified. Source
6. Does the brand (company) have a clear target to phase out PVC in their products, and has the brand already achieved a PVC phase out level of more than 90%? Zara reports that its footwear is PVC-free. However, nothing is reported about other products. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

8 out of 9
1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned in ‘Inditex code of conduct for external manufacturers and suppliers’. Source
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? 1. Yes, legally-binding employment relationships (see ‘Regular employment’); 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime is voluntary (see ‘Working hours are not excessive’); 3. Yes, “wages should always be enough to meet at least the basic needs of workers (...)" (see ‘Wages are paid’). Source
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see ‘Respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining. Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a clear and effective health and safety policy for the workers in the finishing process of jeans, at least covering the ban on sandblasting? Inditex has publicly announced a ban on sandblasting (see link, page 60). Source
5. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Neither Zara nor Inditex communicates a list of factories on its website. Source
6. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions? Inditex is a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) since 2005. Source
7. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labor unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? Inditex is a full member of ETI which means that Labour Unions and/or business-independent NGO’s have a formal and co-decisive voice within the initiative and are co-responsible for the integrity and credibility of the initiative. Source
8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Inditex provides a clear report of their labour conditions policy and implementation levels (see link, pages 54 - 69). Source
9. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? In 2011, around 35% of Inditex factories were compliant (see link, pages 590). Source