The fashion industry, including fast fashion, operates on a complex global supply chain that involves the design, production, and distribution of apparel to meet consumer demands. However, in recent years, the industry has faced growing scrutiny for its environmental and social impact as sustainability becomes a paramount concern globally.
The fashion industry’s supply chain is infamous for its fast-paced nature and heavy resource consumption. Fast fashion, in particular, is characterized by rapid production cycles and high turnover of clothing items, which ultimately results in a significant carbon footprint and waste generation. Sustainable practices in the fashion supply chain are crucial to mitigate these issues.
In this context, many fashion brands have been actively working to reduce their environmental impact. One notable player in this arena is Inditex, the parent company of renowned fashion brands such as Zara and Massimo Dutti. Inditex has made a commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, aligning its business model with sustainability goals.
Inditex has taken a substantial step toward sustainability by partnering with the freight group Maersk. Their collaboration aims to reduce the global greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint associated with seaborne logistics. This initiative is part of Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean program, which replaces fossil fuels with green fuels like green methanol and second-generation biodiesel based on waste feedstocks. This transition is projected to deliver a remarkable over 80% reduction in GHG emissions compared to conventional sources.
This collaboration is a great example of how boosting innovative solutions with dedicated partners is key to fight climate change. Through this joint initiative with Maersk, we are making significant strides in reducing emissions associated with our sea freight. This project aligns with our goal to reach net zero emissions in 2040 and contributes to scale alternative fuels with a significant reduced carbon footprint.
Abel Lopez (Head of Import, Export and Transport at Inditex)
One of the innovative aspects of this program is that Maersk offers its customers the option to handle transports exclusively with certified green fuels for a fixed cost. These greenhouse gas savings are verified externally, and the customers receive certificates. Moreover, these eco-friendly transports will be exempted from EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) charges in the future, further incentivizing sustainable shipping.
The demand for this low GHG emission solution, known as ECO Delivery, is on the rise as many customers are eager to reduce their scope 3 emissions, and the first customers are already embracing this premium solution for their entire cargo under the Maersk Bill of Lading.
We are proud to have Inditex among our first customers who assign 100% of their Maersk ocean inbound cargo to our ECO Delivery product, which ensures a significant reduction of GHG emissions thanks to green fuels. We know Inditex since long as a very responsibly and sustainably thinking partner and customer and going all the way on their ocean cargo is good news for the environment and climate.
Emilio de la Cruz (Managing Director of Maersk’s Area South West Europe)
Both Inditex and Maersk share an ambitious climate target – to become net-zero companies across all business areas by 2040. Beyond their work with ECO Delivery, Inditex is enhancing its sustainability efforts by boosting multimodal transport. They are also collaborating in a new rail solution pilot in the South of Spain, in partnership with Maersk, RENFE, and Cepsa. These close collaborations are instrumental in achieving their shared goals of decarbonization.
