Each year our business gets stronger, more efficient and primed for future growth — thanks in part to the progress we’ve made toward realizing the goals of our Target Forward sustainability strategy.
Just one small but mighty example: By removing a zipper from our Good & Gather chip bag, our food & beverage team was able to eliminate 50 tons of plastic waste and reduce material and operational costs each year.
Moving forward
Our 2024 Sustainability and Governance Report is our opportunity to hold up this and other collaborative efforts our teams have made possible over the past year. They all support our Target Forward ambitions to be a leader in sustainable brands, drive innovation that eliminates waste, and accelerate opportunity and equity.
Some other standouts:
- We debuted the first owned brand products to use recycled fibers from post-consumer garments and textiles. Our Universal Thread T-shirt, tank top and denim skirt, developed in collaboration with Accelerating Circularity, are helping us scale up our circularity efforts and reach our goal to be the market leader for creating and curating inclusive, sustainable brands and experiences by 2030.
- We diverted 85% of operational waste from landfills in 2023 and saw cost savings, putting us closer to meeting our goal of sending zero waste to landfills in our U.S. operations by 2030.
- As we track toward our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our enterprise by 2040, we made progress against our goal to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions — those generated from our stores and facilities and the energy we purchase to power them — by installing more efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems and adopting new operating procedures. We also measured the second straight year-over-year drop in our scope 3 emissions — those generated from our entire supply chain, including the creation of the products and services we sell.
- We made meaningful progress working with suppliers to set science-based targets, with 71% of these partners by spend — or more than 700 suppliers — having set goals. It’s a critical step to lessen our emissions footprint across our enterprise, but also challenging work. While we haven’t yet reached our 2023 goal (80% of suppliers by spend setting these targets), we continue collaborating and providing tools and resources to support them in setting science-aligned goals and emissions reduction strategies.
- We expanded our paid sick time plan and enhanced our mental health services for team members — supporting our goal to create equity by providing access to affordable benefits that enhance our team’s total well-being.
- We’re building partnerships with a range of organizations to support the communities where we live and work, and we’re also investing in their success: In 2023, Target and Target Foundation donated more than $333 million to efforts to help them thrive.
An all-team effort
Achievements like these aren’t possible without our dedicated team members whose work moves us closer to our Target Forward goals and puts us on a more sustainable path to growth. Here are just a few of the voices behind our progress:
A living strategy
We’re always listening to and partnering with our team members, guests and communities so that we can co-create an equitable and regenerative future together. Our Target Forward sustainability strategy is built to respond and evolve — as we explore and identify more solutions that intersect with affordability, joy and ease. As our 2024 Sustainability and Governance Report shows, it’s a truly collective effort.
Download the report and visit our Target Forward page to learn more about our progress.
