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"As a company and a member of the global community, it’s imperative for the health of both our business and our planet that we embrace new ways to move forward. We know sustainability is tied to business resiliency and growth, and that our size and scale can drive change that is good for all. Target Forward influences every corner of our business, deepens our collaboration with our partners and builds on our past efforts to ensure a better future for generations to come."
BRIAN CORNELL
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF TARGET
How does Target approach sustainability?
Target takes a holistic view of sustainability, with efforts focused on our business driving positive impact for both people and planet. We see sustainability efforts as part of an interconnected system, where our actions to help address climate, restore natural systems, and drive opportunity and equity for our teams, communities and partners impact and reinforce one another to create change that is good for all.
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.
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:
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 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.
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.