eBay Unveils First Climate Plan, Aims for Net-Zero by 2045

E-commerce giant eBay has released its inaugural climate plan, committing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations by 2045.

E-commerce leader eBay has launched its first comprehensive corporate climate plan, formally committing to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2045. The announcement outlines targets for reducing direct emissions and those from purchased energy, while also addressing the more complex challenge of emissions generated by its vast network of sellers and logistics partners. This move marks a significant step for the e-commerce giant, aligning it with growing stakeholder pressure for digital marketplaces to account for their full environmental footprint.

The plan represents a critical acknowledgment of the platform's Scope 3 emissions, which constitute the vast majority of its carbon impact from shipping, packaging, and the production of goods sold. eBay's focus on engaging its seller community in sustainability efforts contrasts with plans that only address corporate offices and data centers. This matters because it sets a precedent for the retail sector, demonstrating that a true net-zero ambition for a marketplace must encompass the millions of small businesses and transactions that define its ecosystem, pushing supply chain accountability to the forefront.

For sustainability officers and investors, the implication is a new benchmark for peer companies in digital commerce. The forecast is for increased scrutiny on how marketplaces measure and influence their indirect emissions. Decision-makers at eBay must now develop robust tools and incentives to help sellers track and reduce their own impact, a monumental operational challenge. The next imperative is to transparently report progress and collaborate with logistics and packaging industries to drive systemic changes, ensuring this corporate commitment translates into measurable, large-scale environmental progress.