Inditex emissions hit new records in 2024

When thinking about the negative impact of fast fashion on the Planet, labor exploitation and the low quality of garments that cannot be recycled—despite being changed and discarded in a very short time—often come to mind. However, a new report by Inditex, the Spanish giant that owns several brands including Zara, Bershka, and Mango, highlights the enormous amount of CO2 emissions produced by the transportation of fast fashion goods. According to the data, Inditex's ecological footprint in 2024 has grown twice as much as the volume of products used, reaching a 10% increase in emissions over the year compared to a 5% increase in raw materials. The transfer of materials from factories to collection centers in 2024 required 15% more energy than in previous years, as revealed in Inditex's report. This is a company that has managed to establish itself in high street fashion precisely due to the speed with which it replaces garments in stores.

In the past, Inditex has been criticized for using air transport for shipping goods that could have been transported by land: more than 70% of the Zaragoza airport, Inditex's main logistics hub in Spain, was dedicated to the company in 2020. According to data from operator Aena, shipments from the airport increased by 40% in 2024. Despite the latest results, the company continues to claim that it aims to achieve 0% emissions by 2040 and is committed to halving total emissions by 2030. According to published data, the Spanish giant is one of the highest-emitting fashion companies in the world, producing up to twice as much CO2 as its competitor H&M. It remains difficult to accurately determine how many emissions fashion companies produce since each one calculates its environmental impact differently (Inditex itself has recently changed the way it calculates its ecological footprint). However, it is evident that, despite their differences, fast fashion companies continue to have a severe impact on the future of the Planet.