
We want to nurture a better future for fashion. And we're bringing our customers and brand partners along for the ride.
The life of an item
Let’s break it down
Discover the journey of a fashion item, and how different choices make an impact along the way.It may sound simple, but helping your clothes live longer is an effective way to reduce your environmental footprint.
How to...
Wash smarter to help clothes last longer
Always separate laundry by fabric, colour and care instructions. Handwash delicates and wool to avoid shrinking, and try to machine wash less frequently and on lower temperatures cycles.Look out for features at Zalando that help you find products that reflect your values.
We work to ensure all sustainability claims on our site are accurate. To do this, we use information from our brand partners and a range of third-party standards. Our criteria focus on the most environmentally impactful stages of production, materials and manufacturing. Third-party certifications have rules that prevent retailers from displaying their logo on an item, unless the brand itself carries the same certification. Many brands, particularly smaller ones, don’t have the time or money to obtain these. To help bridge this gap, we have developed our own logos which show when brands are using certified materials and processes. You can see which criteria an item meets by checking its sustainability information.
The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is one of the leading and most trusted certifications for textiles made from organically grown raw materials. Products with this label are made with at least 70% organic content and the supply chain is independently certified to ensure environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing at every stage of production.
There are two levels of certification:
The Organic Content Standard provides a strong chain of custody system to verify organic content, from the sourcing of raw material to the final product. On Zalando, products with this label contain at least 50% organic content, and every stage of the supply chain is independently certified. The certification does not address the use of chemicals or any social or environmental aspects of production.
There are two levels of certification:
Products with this label meet science-based requirements for material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness.
There are four levels of certification:
Products with this label are made with a specified amount of recycled material. This is verified through the use of a third-party recycling standard or trademarked material, or through a brand's own recycling program.
There are three levels:
Products with this label are made with a high percentage of organic materials that are grown without the use of any synthetic pesticides and fertilisers or genetically-modified seeds. This can require up to 90% less water than conventional farming. Brands that use this label must ensure their whole supply chain is certified to a third-party organic standard, including the factory where this product is made.
There are two levels:
Our sustainability criteria for beauty products were created in collaboration with specialist chemical experts at the University of Santiago de Compostela, and with brand partners that are currently leading the way when it comes to industry best practices. Like with our sustainability criteria for fashion, we will continue to improve our sustainability standards for beauty products over time. You can see which criteria an item meets by checking the product information in the sustainability tab.
Our vision is to be a sustainable fashion platform with a net-positive impact for people and the planet. This means that we want to run our business in a way that gives back more than we take.
Our commitment
to do.MORE
Discover what we’ve achieved so far, and some of our plans for the future.