Climate and Net Zero Targets
Scope 1 and 2: By 2030, Target commits to achieve 50% absolute reduction in operations emissions (scopes 1 and 2) from a 2017 base year.

Scope 3: By 2030, Target commits to achieve 30% absolute reduction in supply chain emissions (scope 3) covering retail purchased goods & services from a 2017 base year.

Mid-term (2035/2040) milestones: Target has committed to reach net zero by 2040 across scopes 1-3.

Net Zero Roadmap: No detailed roadmap to net zero published

Renewable Energy Targets
Own operations RE target: Target has a commitment to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources in its own operations by 2030, with an interim target of 60% by 2025, and appears to be prioritizing high impact sources through on-site generation at operational sites and signing VPPAs.

Supply chain RE target: Target does not have a specific supply chain renewable electricity target.

Thermal Coal Phase Out
2030 Coal Phase-out Target: Committed through the UNFCCC Fashion Charter

Thermal energy transition/ electrification: No clear detail on plans

Transparency
Emissions data: Target published three years of scope 1-3 emissions data, including a breakdown of Scope 3 by category, but not by country or supplier tier.

Supply chain energy data: Not disclosed

Supplier lists published: Supplier list published to Tier 1 and partial to Tier 2

Supplier list link

Training, feasibility studies, and non-financial support for climate action
Target reports partnering with Tier 1 and 2 suppliers to increase the uptake of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades through webinars and educational resources. Also a lead funder of Aii’s Clean By Design program

Additional, targeted support for transition planning: Supply Chain Renewables Initiative (SCRI) In 2022, we initiated a Target-led program, in partnership with Schneider Electric, called Supply Chain Renewables Initiative (SCRI). The program aims to engage and educate Target’s suppliers on procuring renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on of-site renewable energy power purchase agreements. This program includes educational content, stakeholder meetings and market sourcing activities to support reductions in supply chain emissions via the acceleration of renewable energy adoption. Through SCRI, we are engaging suppliers to prioritize renewable energy, while working toward our goal to have at least 50% of the energy used in strategic and joint business partner-owned operations come from renewables by 2025.

p.13 52% of our suppliers by spend (of the 80% of suppliers by spend) equating to 301 suppliers, have set science-based scope 1 and 2 goals. This is an increase from the reported 32% in 2021.

Also a lead funder of Aii’s Clean By Design program

Financial Support for Decarbonization
Loans and financing: No evidence of financial support through loans, direct or indirect financing.

Collective financing initiatives: See previous

Direct/debt-free financing: See previous

Responsible/equitable buying to enable climate action
Purchasing decisions incentivize climate action: Target reports having a Vendor Engagement Standard (SOVE) that requires suppliers to have an environmental management system, set clear goals to improve energy and water efficiency and document progress made toward achieving those goals, and install and maintain appropriate air emissions control devices.
It is unclear if environmental performance impacts purchasing decisions.

Equitable/long-term sourcing to enable climate action: Target reports working with Better Buying to “assess the impact of our purchasing practices on supplier sustainability through a financial, environmental and social lens.”

Prices enable climate action: Target has set Just and Equitable Supply chain goals to improve supply chain working conditions, including financial security for workers, but it is not clearly linked to decarbonization or fair pricing for suppliers.

Climate Adaptation
Adaptation/worker just transition training funded or provided: Target reports engaging in climate adaptation preparedness for its supply chain, but does not provide evidence of specific financing or support available to manufacturers, workers or unions.

Emergency support developed with local groups: No evidence

Decarbonization Progress
Reducing manufacturing emissions: No. Scope 3 total from FY20-FY22 has increased. Category 1 increased by 11% YOY and 8% compared with 2020.

Increasing supply chain renewable electricity: No data

Coal phase out transition progress: No data

Commitment to phase out fossil fuel-derived fibers
No commitment to phase down synthetics. Target does have a commitment to achieve 100% recycled, regenerative or sustainably sourced raw material sourcing by 2030.

Deforestation-free materials
Leather: Target does not have a specific policy of ending the use of leather from deforested areas.

Man-made Cellulosic Fibers: No clear policy or commitment

Low-carbon materials
Target has reported participating in two Fashion for Good research projects on increasing circularity, and investing in circularity accelerator trials to incorporate post-consumer recycled textiles into new garments, with a goal of incorporating it into its products in 2024.

Increasing Circularity
Target’s circularity efforts offer a mixed picture. It has partnered with Fashion for Good on research projects and investing in circularity accelerator trials to incorporate post-consumer recycled textiles into new garments.
The company has no specific recycled cotton target but did report increasing the use of recycled cotton in owned brand products.
Target does not offer a repair service, and no longer offers resale through ThredUp.

Target & increase recycled cotton
No specific target, but reported increasing the use of recycled cotton in owned brand products in latest reporting (2022)

100% recycled/organic/regen cotton + wool, report on progress
Target’s commitment prioritizes the use of BCI cotton, rather than organic or regenerative.

Support farmers, transition to regen/organic farming
No clear examples beyond engagement with Better Cotton and the U.S. Cotton Trust.

Resale/repair – % total sales/disclosure on #
Target does not offer a repair service, and no longer offers resale through ThredUp. In December 2022, Target launched Target Certified Refurbished, a program that refurbishes items from Target’s salvage stream and brings them back into Target inventory online, but it is unclear if this includes fashion.

Direct link resale/repair to reduce production
No

Materials transparency
Shares material mix: Target does not report a full material mix, and only shares a breakdown of its recycled polyester sourcing.

Provides data on units sold: No

Target has not made a commitment to reduce its upstream shipping emissions, which is a serious problem for a brand with a transportation emissions footprint of a similar size to SHEIN and Walmart. Target recorded an overall decrease in Category 4 emissions from 2020-2023 of 9%, although emissions spiked significantly in 2021, and remain extremely high.

More positively, Target has set a public commitment to zero carbon maritime shipping by 2040, and reports seeking “collaborations with carriers to optimize deliveries, and utilize renewable fuels and EVs to decarbonize transportation”

No strong direct examples.