Employee sustainability hacks

At Zalando, we aim to build a sustainable fashion platform that has a net-positive impact for people and the planet. Our Sustainability Progress Report 2021 details the progress we’ve made and learnings we’ve achieved while working towards the goals of the do.MORE Sustainability Strategy.

Simultaneously, many of our colleagues are passionate about finding more sustainable solutions when they are shopping and otherwise living their lives.

To help inspire others who may wonder what they can do to be more actionable when it comes to sustainable solutions, we got three colleagues to share their personal favorite sustainability hacks with us.

Helene Mathelemuse, Senior Project Manager, Diversity & Inclusion

I made a personal commitment a while ago that I want to buy less. So now when I buy, I try to buy timeless pieces that are made well. I think about key fashionable items that I like, but stop to consider if they’re following a fast fashion trend or if they are likely to last. The key for me is to choose brands that I know are timeless, so my sustainability hack is to find inspiration by browsing on the pages of brands that are tagged as being more sustainable and follow them on Instagram.

I also make use of the filtering features on Zalando, where I can filter my items by choosing what sustainable option I am most interested in e.g. vegan materials or where it is made.

It’s important for me to recognize that personal actions will go a long way, but as consumers we also influence the businesses we are buying from, by considering their values, and engaging in civic work to change policies. As an employee, I also have the power to use my voice in my work and encourage my leaders to improve products and services to be more sustainable and inclusive. That will also have a bigger impact in the long run.

Joseph Walther Bernier, Team Lead Category and Content Marketing

My sustainability hack is buying better and buying less. As I’ve gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I’ve really made a conscious effort to stop making impulse buys when it comes to clothing. Instead, I try to buy better quality pieces that I know will last longer and stand the test of time, which also makes me appreciate my clothes a lot more.

At this point in time I can’t ignore the climate crisis. I know that my daily actions might not change the issues overnight but if every person makes micro-adjustments then that can have a macro-effect and this is what I try to keep in mind. So each day I try to find ways to live a little bit more sustainably by avoiding single use plastics, taking my bike instead of a cab, and being extra mindful of recycling.

Georgina Bishop, Head of Merchandising Menswear

My top sustainability hack is trying to live more mindfully by creating less waste.

For example, I’ve signed up to a scheme that “rescues” food the supermarkets won’t buy, either because the fruit or vegetable is too big, too small, or has a strange shape but is perfectly edible.

I’m also trying to buy more second hand clothing, and if I do buy new I look for recycled and other more sustainable alternatives. E.g. by using filter options when shopping online.

Implementing sustainable practices in my personal life is very important to me as we should take accountability to leave the planet in a better place for future generations. I am always calling out my friends and family if I see them using single-use plastics or throwing away food.

If you feel inspired to learn more about how we do sustainability at Zalando, then please find our 2021 Sustainability Progress Report here.
You can also visit our Sustainability hub here and check out open positions on our career site here.