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Fast-fashion giant Inditex unveils new sustainability targets

Inditex, the world's biggest fast fashion company, vowed that all its pieces will be made with a reduced impact on the environment by 2030
Inditex, the world's biggest fast fashion company, vowed that all its pieces will be made with a reduced impact on the environment by 2030

Zara owner Inditex has today boosted its sustainability targets, saying it would make all its textile products from fibres that have a "reduced impact on the environment" by 2030.

The company's commitment comes as fast-fashion retailers face growing pressure to cut waste.

The world's biggest fashion company estimates that by the end of the decade around 40% of its fibres would come from conventional recycling and 25% from sustainably farmed crops.

This is according to chief executive Oscar Garcia Maceiras, who made his comments at the company's annual shareholders' meeting today.

Another 25% would come from next-generation materials in which the Spanish group is investing, and the remaining 10% from other sustainable sources.

The company previously had targets to use more sustainable cotton, linen, polyester and fibres made from wood pulp, but did not have a specific target for use of recycled fibres.

The new targets come as the European Commission is drawing up regulations to make clothing retailers pay for the waste the industry produces.

The Commission argues that fast-fashion companies "encourage customers to shop impulsively and incentivise purchasing larger quantities of clothes".

Central to Inditex's sustainability strategy will be working to reach its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040.

The company also committed investments to help regenerate five million hectares of woodland worldwide by 2030.

It plans to continue investing in companies such as Circ, the only start-up with a technology that successfully separates polyester and cotton - which are often blended in textiles - for recycling into new fabric, Garcia Maceiras added.

Zara launched its first women's capsule collection earlier this year and Circ is working on a new one, according to a source at Inditex's US partner.