Sustainability Comparison

Inditex (Zara) vs SHEIN Sustainability: SINK Score Comparison

Inditex (Zara) scores 16 points higher than SHEIN on SINK's sustainability index.

Question-by-question

How each category compares

Category
Inditex
SHEIN
Carbon Footprint — Operations
8/10
5/10
Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain
7/10
3/10
Emissions Trajectory
2/10
0/10
Energy Source
7/10
4/10
Nature & Biodiversity Impact
5/10
2/10
Resource Use & Waste
5/10
3/10
Water Impact
6/10
2/10
Targets & Commitments
7/10
4/10
Transparency & Accountability
7/10
3/10
Controversies & Red Flags
4/10
0/10
Frequently asked

Inditex (Zara) vs SHEIN, answered.

Which is more sustainable, Inditex (Zara) or SHEIN?

Inditex (Zara) is more sustainable according to SINK's open sustainability index, scoring 32/100 vs SHEIN's 16/100 — a difference of 16 points.

What is Inditex (Zara)'s SINK sustainability score?

Inditex (Zara) scores 32/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Below expectations). Inditex reports strong operational emissions reductions but masks a critical failure: Scope 3 emissions—99% of its total footprint—have barely moved in six years despite aggressive net-zero targets. Fast fashion volume growth outpaces decarbonisation efforts. Multiple NGOs document greenwashing, labour abuses, and supply chain opacity.

What is SHEIN's SINK sustainability score?

SHEIN scores 16/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Significant gaps). SHEIN is a fast-fashion giant with runaway emissions—26.2 million tonnes CO₂e in 2024, up 23% year-on-year and 175% since 2021. Supply chain transparency is near-zero, renewable energy relies on unbundled certificates, and regulatory fines for greenwashing in Italy and France expose systematic misleading claims. SBTi-validated targets are undermined by continued growth-coupled emissions surge.

How does SINK compare Inditex (Zara) and SHEIN?

Both companies are rated on the same 10-question SINK rubric: Scope 1/2/3 carbon footprint, energy source, nature and biodiversity, resource use, water, emissions trajectory, science-based targets, transparency, and controversies. Scores are 0–100, based on public data, and fully reproducible.

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