Target’s sustainability journey

Our work to bring solutions that better serve our communities and our environment can be seen across our business — from our inclusive and sustainable product assortments and the increasing renewable energy footprint in our operations, to our social justice commitments and philanthropic support of underserved communities at home and around the world.

• In 2019, we set science-based targets for emissions reductions across scopes 1, 2 and 3 — becoming a leader in U.S. retail — and we’ve also committed to join the Business Ambition for 1.5°C, ensuring that our emissions will contribute to no more than 1.5 degree warming. Within our renewable energy efforts, we currently have projects and partnerships in place that, when complete, will result in our purchasing nearly 50% of our electricity from renewable sources, well on our way to 100% by 2030.
• Circular design principles can be seen in two of our owned brands, Universal Thread and Everspring, and we accelerated our commitments to sustainable packaging in 2018 when we became signatories to the New Plastics Economy.
• Target’s Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee was established in 2020 and accelerates our work to create racial equity for Black team members, guests and communities. REACH builds on 15 years of progress in creating a diverse workforce, and setting diversity and inclusion goals for Target’s team and business.

Target Forward builds on these efforts, continues work toward these commitments, and sets new goals to accelerate our ambitions and drive for additional change that is good for all. The list below is a starting set of milestones we have established through ongoing listening and collaboration with our partners and communities. We will evolve and add to this list as we work to achieve our vision of a more equitable and regenerative future for all. 

How we'll get there

Our goals

By 2030, Target aims to be the market leader for creating and curating inclusive, sustainable brands and experiences.

Initial milestone:

By 2030, Target intends for the leading raw materials (e.g., forest products, cotton and more) that go into our owned brand products to be 100% recycled, regenerative or sustainably sourced.

Foundations we've laid:

• With multiple partners and stakeholders, Target is working to meet responsible sourcing commitments for palm oil, cotton, forest-based products, coffee and seafood.
• In April 2021, we launched our commitment to spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025.
• In 2022, we launched Target Zero, an initiative to help our guests more easily find hundreds of products across our assortment that create less packaging waste.

By 2025, Target plans for 100% of our owned brands, in addition to our owned brand limited-edition and brand partnerships, to adhere to Target’s already established sustainability standards.

Foundations we've laid:

In several of our owned brands, including Everspring, Universal Thread, Spritz and Cat & Jack, we are already implementing our Chemicals Policy, Responsible Sourcing Policy for Forest Products and Cotton Policy.

By 2025, Target plans for 100% of suppliers to have policies and programs to advance gender equity.

Focus areas of these policies and programs include:

• Equitable systems for hiring and advancement.
• Financial security for their workers.
• Effective anonymous channels for incident reporting.
• Access to gender-responsive health information and services for their workers.

Foundations we've laid:

Continued investment in CARE’s Dignified Work Initiative.

By 2040, Target plans for 100% of our owned brand products to be designed for a circular future.

Our teams will continue designing to eliminate waste — using materials that are regenerative, recycled or sourced sustainably — to create products that are more durable, easily repaired or recyclable.

Initial milestone:

By 2025, Target aims to offer two circular owned brands.

Foundations we've laid:

• More than 2,000 team members and nearly 2,000 vendors have learned circular design principles.
• We also launched Target’s Circular Design Guide, a web-based training hub for team members to learn about circular design, and completed testing for our Circular Design Calculator enabling team members to calculate key factors when choosing materials.

By 2025, Target intends to reduce annual total virgin plastic in our owned brand packaging by 20%.

Initial milestone:

By 2025, Target intends to have 100% of our owned brand plastic packaging be recyclable, compostable or reusable.

Foundations we've laid:

Signatories to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and the U.S. Plastics Pact.

By 2040, Target commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our enterprise (scopes 1, 2 and 3).

• By 2023, 80% of Target’s suppliers by spend (covering all purchased goods and services) will set science-based scope 1 and scope 2 targets.
• By 2025, Target commits to engage suppliers to prioritize renewable energy and collaborate on solutions that protect, sustain and restore nature.
• By 2025, Target commits to source 60% of our electricity from renewable sources for our operations.
• By 2030, Target commits to source 100% of our electricity from renewable sources for our operations.
• By 2030, Target commits to achieve 50% absolute reduction in operations emissions (scopes 1 and 2) from a 2017 base year.
• By 2030, Target commits to achieve 30% absolute reduction in supply chain emissions (scope 3) covering retail purchased goods and services from a 2017 base year.

Foundations we've laid:

• Set science-based targets for emissions reductions across scopes 1, 2 and 3.
• Committed to join the Business Ambition for 1.5°C.
• Currently have projects and partnerships in place that, when complete, will result in our purchasing nearly 50% of our electricity from renewable sources, well on our way to 100% by 2030.
• In 2022, retrofitted our first net zero energy store, generating more energy than it needs to operate each year through renewable sources. 
• By the close of 2019, our merchandise suppliers reported net reductions in their scope 1 and 2 emissions that were equivalent to 3% of the baseline established in 2017 (see page 50 of our 2021 Corporate Responsibility report).

By 2030, Target plans to achieve zero waste to landfill in U.S. operations.

• By 2030, Target intends to divert 90% of waste from landfill through reuse, recycling, donation and reduction strategies.
• We intend to reduce waste through innovative circular programs.

Foundations we've laid:

In 2020, we diverted 60.2% of construction waste and 80.1% of operational waste from landfill.

By 2030, Target aims to build a team that equitably reflects the communities we serve.

Initial milestone:

• By 2023, Target aims to increase representation of Black team members across the company by 20%.
• By 2023, Target aims to increase the promotional rate of people of color and women while reducing the rate of turnover.
• Target plans to maintain a balance of male and female team members at every level of our company.

Foundations we've laid:

• In 2020, we established the Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee to accelerate the work of creating racial equity for Black team members, guests and our communities.
• Our 2020 Workforce Diversity Report shares our team members are 50% people of color and 58% women.

Create a workplace experience where every team member can thrive in when, where and how they work.

Initial milestone:

By 2025, we plan to invest in technology and modern processes to enable consistent, reliable schedules for all front-line team members.

By 2030, engage and elevate community voices as we seek to build and implement community-driven solutions.

Initial milestone:

By 2025, Target and Target Foundation plan to evolve our philanthropic practices and place-based solutions to invite participation from communities.

Foundations we've laid:

In 2021, we announced a $100 million investment through 2025 to help fuel economic prosperity in Black communities across the country. We’re doing so by supporting local, Black-led organizations to ensure that resources are specifically designed for the communities they serve. This investment will support students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), expand our funding of Black-led nonprofits, and sponsor programs that elevate Black stories and voices. With this investment, Target is a founding supporter of the PENSOLE Lewis College of Business and Design, which aims to be the nation’s first reopened historically Black college and the first historically Black college to focus on design.

Invest in well-being solutions to address social determinants of health for team members and their families.

Initial milestone:

• By 2025, Target plans to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare for all team members and families.
• By 2023, Target aims to eliminate complexity and barriers to entry by offering easily accessible benefits and resources to all Target team members focused on learning and career advancement, physical and mental health, family support and financial well-being.

Foundations we've laid:

In 2021, Target launched a new debt-free education assistance benefit, giving all team members access to free undergraduate and associates degrees, certificates, bootcamp programs, textbooks, course fees and more with no out-of-pocket costs required.

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