Home » Environment

Target’s Roadmap to Sustainability: Ambitious Corporate Goals and Ongoing Challenges

Target pursues a multifaceted sustainability strategy: tackling emissions, circular products, community impact, and innovative supply chains.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 27, 2025

Target pursues a multifaceted sustainability strategy: tackling emissions, circular products, community impact, and innovative supply chains.

Target’s Sustainability Ambitions: A Comprehensive Overview

As one of the largest retailers in the United States, Target Corporation has set a new precedent for corporate sustainability. With a sweeping set of goals and strategies, Target aims to redefine how a modern retailer addresses climate change, resource use, waste reduction, and community impact. This article delves into Target’s sustainability roadmap, measurable achievements, persistent challenges, and the company’s vision for a future of circularity and net-zero emissions.

Setting the Stage: Target’s Core Sustainability Goals

Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2040
100% Renewable Electricity by 2030
Circular Product and Packaging Portfolio by 2040
Zero Waste Operations by 2030
Inclusive, Regenerative, and Responsibly Sourced Brands by 2030

Each of these goals comes with specific milestones and detailed action plans designed to hold the company accountable.

Initial Milestones and Key Commitments

By 2025, Target aims for 100% of owned brand plastic packaging to be recyclable, compostable, or reusable.
Leading raw materials in owned brand products—such as forest products, cotton, and more—will be 100% recycled, regenerative or sustainably sourced by 2030.
By 2025, 100% of Target’s owned brands and partnerships will adhere to established sustainability standards.
Target will achieve a 55% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 32.5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions (from a 2017 base year) by 2030.

Measurable Impacts: Progress and Data

Transparency and accountability are vital to sustainability. Target’s annual reports detail the measurable progress toward its goals:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By 2023, Target reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 24% from 2017 levels, aligning closely with its net-zero target for 2040.
Waste Diversion: Target achieved an 80% diversion rate for waste in stores and distribution centers, working toward zero waste by 2030.
Sustainable Products: As of 2023, 25% of owned-brand products were made with sustainable materials, with further increases expected.
Renewable Energy: In 2023, Target sourced 60% of its electricity from renewable sources, targeting 100% by 2030.
Community Investment: Over $150 million donated to nonprofits in 2023, focusing on community development, food access, and education.

Breaking Down Key Initiatives

1. Circular Economy and Waste Reduction

Target aims to ignite a circular economy across its product portfolio. The goal: products and packaging designed for reuse, recyclability, or compostability. Notable initiatives include:

Target Zero: A flagship initiative spotlighting products designed to create less packaging waste and help guests make sustainable choices.
Plastic Reduction: Commitment to reduce virgin plastic in owned-brand packaging by 20% by 2025, with a 2020 baseline.

Progress & Challenges:

As of 2023, Target used 47,000 metric tons of virgin plastic in own-brand packaging—a 22% increase over the 2020 baseline, though an 11% improvement from 2022.
Only certain product categories (food, beverage, essentials, beauty) are targeted for virgin plastic reduction.
Single-use plastics and recycling rates remain ongoing areas for innovation.

2. Climate and Energy

Emissions Reduction Strategy:

Transitioning stores and supply chain facilities to energy-efficient processes.
Expanding sourcing of renewable energy through solar and wind projects.
Investing in natural refrigerants and joining EPA’s GreenChill program to reduce chemical emissions.

Highlight: Net-Zero Energy Store

In 2022, Target remodeled a store in Vista, CA, to serve as its first net-zero energy location. This site generates more energy than it requires annually, thanks to rooftop and canopy solar panels—more than 3,400 panels are operational. The store acts as a testing ground for future green retail architecture.

3. Responsible Sourcing and Supply Chain Transparency

Target’s leadership involves not only product stewardship but also ensuring ethical and sustainable practices throughout its supply chain:

Partnering with suppliers to set science-based emissions targets.
Prioritizing responsible sourcing for key commodities: palm oil, cotton, forest-based products, coffee, and seafood.
Focusing philanthropy and spending to advance social equity, with over $2 billion planned for Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025.
Monitoring suppliers to meet labor rights and environmental protections, particularly in high-risk regions.

4. Community Engagement and Social Impact

True sustainability must uplift society. Target pursues community engagement through:

Philanthropic donations toward food access, education, and asset-building in underserved communities.
Partnerships with local organizations and volunteer programs to maximize social impact.
Developing inclusive brands and curating retail experiences that reflect diverse consumer needs.

Current Challenges and Areas for Improvement

Despite comprehensive efforts and year-over-year progress, Target faces systemic challenges:

Scope 3 Emissions: These emissions occur outside direct operational control, mainly within the supply chain and logistics. Target works closely with suppliers to improve sourcing and efficiency, but industry-wide improvement is needed for scalable impact.
Plastic Waste: Although circularity efforts are underway, plastic waste—especially in packaging—remains a difficult issue due to ongoing reliance on virgin plastic in certain categories.
Supply Chain Transparency: Ensuring ethical labor and environmental standards across global suppliers is ongoing, particularly in high-risk regions requiring robust oversight.

Future Plans: Building for Tomorrow

Looking ahead, Target’s vision for sustainability grows more ambitious, aiming for industry leadership and societal transformation:

Expansion of Net-Zero Stores

Planned expansion of net-zero energy model stores, retrofitting existing sites and building new ones to stringent sustainability standards.

Accelerated Circular Product Portfolio

Redesigning all owned-brand products to be fully circular by 2040, with emphasis on sustainable materials and full recyclability.

Enhanced Community and Philanthropy Engagement

Expansion of charitable donations and volunteer programs to deepen community impact.
Strengthening partnerships with local organizations for greater social innovation.

Innovation in Supply Chain

Investment in sustainable transportation, including electric vehicles and low-emission logistics.
Optimization of packaging to further reduce waste and environmental impact.

Sustainability at Target: Quick Facts Table

Goal	Target Year	Progress/Status
Net-zero GHG emissions (Scopes 1, 2, 3)	2040	24% reduction since 2017 (Scope 1 & 2)
Renewable electricity sourcing	2030	60% sourced as of 2023
Zero waste in stores/distribution	2030	80% diversion rate achieved
Plastic packaging circularity	2025	Progress; increase in virgin plastic use in 2023
Circular product portfolio	2040	25% owned-brand products sustainable as of 2023

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What does “Net Zero” mean in Target’s sustainability strategy?

A: Net zero means that Target aims to balance all greenhouse gas emissions produced by its operations with equivalent emissions reductions or offsets, so its overall impact is neutral by 2040.

Q: How is Target tackling single-use plastic packaging?

A: Target has pledged that 100% of owned-brand plastic packaging will be recyclable, compostable, or reusable by 2025. While progress has been made, the company is currently using more virgin plastic than its original baseline, highlighting the challenge in this space.

Q: What is Target Zero?

A: Target Zero is an initiative designed to help shoppers identify products that produce less packaging waste, supporting the company’s efforts to drive down landfill-bound plastics and other materials.

Q: How is Target ensuring ethical practices in its supply chain?

A: Target enforces sustainability standards for all owned brands and strategic partnerships, works with suppliers on science-based emissions goals, and monitors supply chain labor and environmental practices—especially in high-risk regions.

Q: Is Target involving communities in its sustainability initiatives?

A: Yes, Target invests in philanthropic programs, local organization partnerships, and inclusive brand development, with more than $150 million donated and a $2 billion commitment to Black-owned businesses.

Conclusion: The Road Ahead for Target

Target’s holistic approach to sustainability knits together climate action, circular economy principles, supply chain innovation, and inclusive community impact. Measuring and reporting progress enables transparency, while continued investments in renewable energy and ethical sourcing drive industry-level change. Challenges—including Scope 3 emissions and plastic waste—are real but not insurmountable, as Target’s openness to collaboration and innovation sets a model for responsible growth. In the coming years, the company’s efforts could shape new norms for retail, offering a blueprint for global brands seeking both profitability and planetary stewardship.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

Read full bio of medha deb