As a platform that distributes more than 2,000 brands to 31 million customers, Zalando has made a significant commitment to responsible fashion consumption. It has done so by striking a challenging balance that includes everything from the latest premium brands to fashion-conscious pioneers in its offerings. To contribute even more, Zalando has its own brand, Zign, with its own sustainable label and design.
This prominent position gives it the possibility to positively influence the supply and demand of sustainable fashion; trying to lead its customers towards a more conscientious and responsible consumption.
A Champion for Circular Fashion
Zalando teamed up with nine Nordic brands selected for their position as pioneers in eco-fashion: Blanche, Bruuns Bazaar, Designers Remix, Filippa K, HanKjøbenhavn, Holzweiler, House of Dag-mar, Libertine-Libertine and Won Hundred. After working together, they launched Small steps. Big impact, a new collection of sustainable garments that promote timeless and responsible fashion.
The proposal is composed of flowing dresses, structured suits, durable denim garments, and lightweight jackets. They all form a selection that promises to last several seasons in the close. Zalando educates consumers on the best ways to wash garments so that they last longer, and it also offers a repair service.
Zalando Boosts its Circular Strategy by Focusing on Repairs
Zalando has set up repair services in its hometown and expanded its "circularity redesign" collection with QR-coded digital product passports. This is done with the end goal to interact with customers after purchase and to support extending the life of consumers' products.
Zalando partnered with the London-based app Save Your Wardrobe to offer quality care and repair services for garments and shoes through selected local studios and tailors to Berlin customers via a digital platform. The collection and return of repaired items is handled by Zalando Premium Logistics.
The company said it aims to drive behavioral change and achieve Zalando's goal of applying circularity principles and extending the life of at least 50 million fashion items by 2023, the results of which will remain to be seen.
The Germany-based firm is driving its do.MORE sustainability strategy, has also led it to steadily expand its second-hand offering and to develop an open-source platform for textile waste management as part of the Sorting For Circularity project with Fashion for Good.
In the design phase, Zalando is working with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and a Berlin-based start-up circular. fashion to define criteria for circular products across the industry and train its private label teams in a circular design.
Search According to Certification
Among Zalando's search filters we find the 'sustainable' one. It is a very simple way to identify in a real way through the search engine of its website the garments that Zalando has certified have this origin. Something that puts it one step ahead of the competition.
In addition, each of these garments or accessories details what sustainability labels are behind each of the products you buy from initiatives such as Better Cotton Initiative organic cotton or naturally-treated leather from Leather Working Group to whether it is made from recycled plastic certified by the Global Recycled Standard and the Recycled Claim Standard.
It also features brands that use GOTS-certified organic cotton, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 approved textiles, as well as brands that carry the Organic Content Standard and Responsible Down Standard.