Zara

Zara is owned by Inditex.

Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Zara “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It follows an unsustainable ultra fast fashion model due to its quick release of trend-led styles, aggressive marketing practices, and very large number of products.
• It uses a medium proportion of lower-impact materials including recycled materials, and it publishes an aggregate breakdown of materials used.
• It uses lower-impact materials that help limit the chemicals, water, and wastewater in its supply chain.
• It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
• It offers clothing recycling to consumers to help address end-of-life textile waste.
• It’s set a target to eliminate hazardous chemicals after 2025 but does not disclose whether they are on track.

Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Zara “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• Some of its final stage is located in low risk countries or certified facilities, however it does not publish an aggregate breakdown of suppliers.
• It has a comprehensive policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain.
• Its Code of Conduct covers ILO principles.
• It audits some of its supply chain including all of the final production stage.
• Its initiatives help provide financial security for its suppliers, which can ensure better job conditions for workers.
• It claims to have a program to improve wages but there’s no evidence it ensures its workers are paid living wages in most of its supply chain.
• It has not taken sufficient steps to remediate its links to cotton sourced from Xinjiang, a region in China at risk of Uyghur forced labour.

Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Zara “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:

• It appears to use leather, shearling, wool, cashmere, alpaca, down, and decorative exotic feather.
• Some of its animal-derived materials consist of recycled or certified alternatives to conventional cashmere, wool, and down.
• It doesn’t appear to use fur, angora, exotic animal skin, or mohair.
• It states that it sources wool from non-mulesed sheep.
• It has a formal policy but it is not aligned with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Zara “It's a Start” overall.