INDITEX Group

Strategic Environmental Plan 2011-2015

Download - Strategic Environmental Plan

New Environmental Strategic Plan ‘Sustainable Inditex 2011-2015’: the challenge of extending sustainability to the value chain

Further to the implementation of the 2007-2010 Environmental Strategic Plan, Inditex has set in train the new environmental plan of the Group for the next five years, known as: ‘Sustainable Inditex 2011-2015’. This new plan aims at extending, consolidating and increasing 2007-2010 Strategic Plan.

In addition to the activities of 2007-2010 Plan, the 2011-2015 Strategy will enable Inditex to meet the goals of reducing CO2 emissions by 10% in 2015 and by 20 % in 2020, as compared to 2005.

To reach such target, the plan will have an impact on the value chain, for the purposes of reducing the global ecological footprints of the Group by implementing six action lines:

1.- New stores

Building sustainable and environment-friendly stores: by resorting to cutting edge technology in energy management and saving, and by reducing CO2 emissions.

Lines of action

  • All new openings and refurbishments shall adjust to yardsticks for a sustainable store.
  • Achieving LEED certification in some of the new flagship stores or the most relevant refurbished stores.
  • Implementing a centralised Environment Management and Control System for all new openings, allowing for the continuous improvement of environment parameters.
  • Technological surveillance to identify new eco-materials which might be used in the building of stores.

2.- Existing stores

Redesigning the existing stores: by improving the technologies used and by optimizing their environmental management for the purposes of reducing CO2.emissions.

Lines of action

In all stores opened prior to 2005 and to ensure the renewal thereof, the following steps will be taken:

  • Renewal of light fittings, through the use of highly energy-efficient lamps.
  • Installation of a centralised management system.
  • Replacing the current HVAC units with other ones of Class A, more efficient, thus ensuring the absence of gazes harmful to the ozone layer.
  • Adding speed control devices at escalators.

3.- Logistics

Optimizing routes; using state of the art efficient vehicles; insisting on the reduction of packages and training drivers to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.

Lines of action

  • Sustainable optimization of routes (consolidation, low-impact transports, training drivers…).
  • Conducting environmental audits of routes.
  • Environmental assessment of logistics suppliers.
  • Installing networks of external charge for hybrid vehicles at logistics platforms.
  • Implementing and developing software to assess CO2 emissions in the routes, and scope 3 measuring pursuant to GHG Protocol.
  • Assessing new technologies for sustainable mobility (natural gas, hybrid vehicles).

4.- Employees

Training al the employees and raising their awareness regarding the global environment issue and the specific implications at their workplace.

Lines of action

  • Providing awareness-raising issues and environmental information in the corporate magazine (100,000 copies in twelve languages).
  • Environmental training for store staff, included in the daily training at store.
  • Producing environmental awareness videos and material
  • Online training for staff at corporate levels.
  • Environmental training for Human Resources trainers at logistics centres.
  • Publication of the Ecotechnical report: eBulletin on new environmental technologies and experiences.

5.- Products

Promoting the consideration of eco-friendly alternatives in the development of new products and ancillay materials.

Lines of action

  • Implementing tools to assess the environmental and CO2 impact of products (scope 3), by taking further steps in the measurement of the carbon footprint.
  • Offering textile products made out of eco-friendly material.

6.- Water

Promote a more efficient water consumption at own manufacturing centers, stores and throughout the supply chain.

Lines of action

  • Definition of a Water Management Strategic Plan at Inditex in compliance with the CEO Water Mandate criteria
  • Assessment and analysis of water print
  • Improvement of water management at own manufacturing centers and stores
  • Elaboration of mandatory criteria to suppliers and improvement protocols
  • Carrying out of pilot projects
  • Joining international programs in collaboration with sectorial companies as well as opinion groups

7 .- Environment and nature

Preserving nature with a double goal:

  • Promoting sustainable management of biodiversity, fostering values-based education, focused on knowing, respecting, improving and preserving ecosystems.
  • Collaborating in the compensation of CO2 emissions caused by the activity of the Inditex Group.

Lines of action

  • Supporting the bank of seeds and improvement of forest ecosystems of the Centro de Investigaciones Forestales de Lourizán of Xunta de Galicia (Spain).
  • Supporting global environmental awareness initiatives.
  • Supporting projects for the sustainable management of natural resources:
    • Program for the creation of marine reserves for sustainable fishing
    • Implementing strategies for the sustainable use of water.