ZARA – Sustainability Innovation Hub

⦁ Parent company INDITEX set up in 2020 a Sustainability Innovation Hub; a platform to work with start-ups, innovation accelerators and renown sustainability organizations such as Textile Exchange, Global Fashion Agenda or Ellen MacArthur Foundation, among others. The objective is to overcome the industry challenges by searching for new materials, approaches and processes that will make possible industrial scalability of sustainable and circular innovation.

⦁ Their first collaboration was with LanzaTech, an innovative start-up that produces sustainable materials from CO2. ZARA has already launched two capsule collections produced with LanzaTech technology, transforming carbon emissions into new fabric.

⦁ In May 2022, ZARA reached an agreement to support the construction of Infinited Fibers Company factory that will allow industrial scalability of their innovative technology that transforms used clothing into new fabric InfinnaTM. The agreement includes the commitment of ZARA to buy 30% of the fabric produced by Infinited Fibers for over 100 million euros when the factory opens in 2024 and for three years.

⦁ INDITEX first ever investment outside their own companies has been in CIRC, a start-up that has developed a disruptive technology that makes recycling of mixed polyester-cotton fabrics possible.

⦁ Since then, the Sustainability Innovation Hub has continued to identify initiatives, help bring them to fruition and establish partnerships to scale these more sustainable solutions. SIH is currently working with more than 200 startups.

⦁ All in-house designers have been trained in circular design principles, meaning they take into account the full life cycle of the product, from the resources needed to the future recyclability of the materials.