Is Zara Fast Fashion, Ethical, or Sustainable?

Zara sustainability issues with chemicals

 Zara committed to removing all dangerous chemicals from their business by the year 2020. The brand’s “eco-friendly” line, “Join Life,” comprising what they call eco-friendly textiles, was released in 2016. However, the fast fashion brand didn’t live up to its previous eco pledges.

With just a quick look at the brand’s FY 2020 Statement on Non-Financial Information, we can see that there is no information detailing any results or progress on the commitment it made to remove hazardous chemicals from its supply chain in partnership with Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals. And while factories Zara uses have been proven to release toxic chemicals and waste that actively harm the environment and all its inhabitants, workers’ health is also highly affected by these chemicals. 

Zara factory working conditions

Some employees in Tunisia are timed down to the minute to make sure they are meeting practically impossible demands, such as creating 150 items in an hour. When this objective is met, employees are “rewarded” with a modest bonus. 

Additionally, the company has been accused of employing harsh labor methods repeatedly in a number of nations, including Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Myanmar. Workers who work in Myanmar’s supply chain have expressed concerns about their 11-hour shifts and unlivable wages.

In 2011, it was discovered that the Brazilian contractor in charge of the majority of Zara’s production subcontracted to companies that used migrant workers in sweatshop conditions. Some of these migrant laborers were even teens, and the conditions at these institutions have been compared to slavery. By claiming that it was not in charge of “unauthorized outsourcing,” Zara disclaimed all liability.

Furthermore, the factory workers who were not paid for their work after their facility was shut down were found to have put messages inside Zara apparel in 2018.

Inditex denied any wrongdoing, but reports of sweatshop conditions at a Zara supplier’s factory have surfaced. The Inditex Group stated that they have made a point of adhering to labor laws and regulations. However, the brand only discloses the salary of its retail employees, not including the factory workers, thus it is difficult to verify this claim.

Fast fashion & overconsumption 

As we previously mentioned, Zara’s goal is to complete a garment’s journey from conception to retail sale in under 15 days. As a result of the fast fashion model, the number of times a clothing item is worn before it is thrown out has decreased by 36%. Clothing production has also doubled in the past couple of decades.

The aim of Zara to produce hundreds of designs annually immediately translates into excessive energy and water use as well as air pollution use. These consequences are more pronounced in the Global South, where factories are often positioned to take advantage of lower-cost labor than in the Global North-advantaged nations.

Animal welfare

Sure, fur, angora, and stocking goods that have undergone animal testing are all strictly prohibited under Zara’s animal welfare policy, which is in line with the Five Freedoms. Sadly, Zara does utilize wool, leather, down, and exotic animal hair, and there is no proof that it can be shown that any animal goods were used before the initial step of manufacture.

In the wild, terrestrial and marine animals alike consume the poisonous dyes and microfibres discharged in streams through the food chain with disastrous results. Additionally, animal welfare is endangered when materials made from animals, such as wool, leather, and fur, are utilized in fashion. For instance, countless scandals show that actual furs, such as cat and dog hair, is frequently misrepresented as faux fur to naive customers.

The fact is that genuine fur is now more affordable to make and purchase than synthetic fur since so much of it is being produced in fur farms in appalling circumstances.

Zara’s Sustainability Initiatives & greenwashing

Zara owner Inditex recently announced a new series of sustainability initiatives, including the goal for 100 percent of its cotton, linen, and polyester to be sustainable by 2025.

The fast fashion brand is also “ planning to switch to 100% renewable energy to run its internal operations by 2030,” as well as reducing and offsetting all emissions by 2040. However, it’s a bit hard to trust a brand that it’s notorious for breaking promises and instead relying on greenwashing. Especially when 60% of sustainability claims by fashion giants are greenwashing.

All we have to do is look at the controversy that was sparked by the launch of Zara’s Pre-Owned Launch.

In order to encourage customers to sell their unwanted clothing to the company directly rather than utilizing other resale platforms, the pre-owned launch plan includes a customer-to-customer sales platform that can be accessed on the main Zara website and an app.

1. Tentree

Price: $20-$270

Sustainable Materials: Tencel, Recycled Polyester, Organic Cotton, Hemp

Tentree is a sustainable menswear brand for all our outdoorsmen! Aside from sourcing eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and Tencel, they also go out of their way to help the environment by planting trees for every purchase. In fact, you can even track your tree planted on their website – which isn’t something you see often amongst the best ethical clothing brands!

On their virtual shelves, you can find an array of clothing alternatives to Zara including t-shirts, shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, jackets, bottoms, coats, and even loungewear at a very affordable prices.

2.Toad & Co 

Price: $15 – $160

Sustainable Materials: Hemp, organic cotton, Tencel

With recycled materials and organic materials like cotton and hemp, Tentree is an Earth-first sustainable fashion brand that creates durable clothing for both men and women. You can find great clothing alternatives to Zara made of organic cotton that is reasonably priced and environmentally friendly. They are super versatile pieces ideal for your everyday wardrobe since they are so soft, snug, and comfortable.

The eco-friendly clothing brand, which is B Corp accredited, collaborates with international philanthropic groups to rebuild natural environments and grow trees. In fact, they’ve planted more than 61 million trees and regenerated the soil.

3.Kotn

Price: $12 – $475

Sustainable Materials: BCI-certified Egyptian cotton

Designed in Canada, and ethically and sustainably made in the Nile Delta, KOTN’s apparel is a fantastic alternative to Zara for both men and women. With a strong dedication to supply-chain transparency and charitable endeavors, KOTN was able to produce not just “The Perfect T-Shirt,” but also a vast array of ethically made, long-lasting staples.

The certified B corp works directly with farmers. Their vibrantly colored textiles are finished with nontoxic, OEKO-TEX-certified dyes. Additionally, they have teamed up with a neighborhood NGO to help put a stop to child labor by giving kids in their cotton-growing villages access to school.

About Author

Konstantina Antoniadou

Freelance sustainability and fashion writer with an ongoing curiosity to explore new innovative technologies, and report on trends in “green” industries.