Inditex signs €15m agreement to scale regenerative agricultural systems

Fashion retail group Inditex, has signed an agreement with non-profit Conversation International, investing 15 million euros, to expand and scale work around regenerative agricultural systems.

The Regenerative Fund for Nature, established in 2021 by Conservation International and Kering with the aim of converting 1,000,000 hectares of crop and rangelands into regenerative agricultural systems by 2026, is being supported by Inditex, the company that owns Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and Zara Home.

The investment will help the fashion sector, which is mostly dependent on agriculture for its raw materials, become more sustainable. Most apparel starts on a farm or piece of rangeland, whether it is cotton, wool, leather, or cashmere. Agriculture has a big impact on how the environment is affected. In order to restore nature and improve the environment, regenerative farming methods present a special option. These farming and grazing techniques, when used properly, improve soil function and fertility, restore water cycles, promote biodiversity, and store carbon.

With Inditex’s investment concentrating on regenerative practices in the areas of cotton and man-made cellulosic fibers, Conservation International’s fund will continue to give priority to initiatives that improve regenerative results. Funds will be given to farming organizations, project managers, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders who are prepared to test, validate, and scale regenerative approaches, which place an emphasis on interacting in harmony with natural systems.

The money for this partnership comes from Inditex’s #BRINGYOURBAG campaign. Once plastic bags were banned, Inditex started charging customers for single-use paper bags in 2021 to promote the usage of reusable bags. In partnership with non-profit organizations like Water.org, WWF, or Action Social Advancement, the shopping bag charge initiative’s whole earnings are put into environmental and social causes.