SBTi validation aligns eBay’s targets with a 1.5C pathway under the Paris Agreement
Operational emissions down 92 percent since 2019, Scope 3 shipping remains main challenge
Net zero target set for 2045 with supply chain decarbonization and circular resale growth
EBay has released its first climate transition plan with a net zero target for 2045, outlining how the global e-commerce platform intends to curb emissions across operations, logistics and supply chains. The plan has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, placing the company among a growing cohort of digital retailers seeking formal alignment with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C temperature objective.
Renewable Power and Early Reductions
The company reached its goal of powering all facilities with 100 percent renewable electricity in 2024, one year ahead of schedule. The commitment, originally set for 2025, served as the foundation for more ambitious climate actions. According to the plan, operational emissions have fallen 92 percent relative to 2019 as data centers and offices transitioned to cleaner power and more efficient infrastructure. Transportation emissions, which eBay counts separately within its footprint, were reduced 21 percent toward a 2030 goal of 27.5 percent.
Chief Sustainability Officer Renee Morin told Reuters that the company aims to hold its decarbonization strategy within a clear scientific framework. “We aim to align ourselves with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average,” she said. Morin added that this objective reflects the consensus of most countries under the Paris climate accord and has become the reference point for investors who track corporate climate performance.
Shipping as the Hardest Frontier
EBay’s transition plan highlights shipping as the dominant source of emissions across its value chain. The company reported that shipping accounts for 84 percent of its Scope 3 footprint, which includes indirect emissions from suppliers, logistics partners and product use. The company expects this category to remain the most complex as consumers continue to value rapid delivery and global reach.
“We are collaborating with carriers who offer local pickup or switching from planes to trucks with some of our vendors. We have to be creative to achieve our goals,” Morin said. The company will also expand low carbon shipping innovations and experiment with alternatives such as consolidated delivery and localized resale markets. Executives consider these partnerships to be central to achieving the company’s plan without diluting service expectations.
Circular Commerce and Consumer Behavior
The plan places circular business models at the center of future emissions reduction. EBay will encourage users to buy and sell pre-owned products to avoid emissions linked to manufacturing new goods. The company argues that resale and reuse can become a scalable, mainstream lever for cutting emissions and waste. Market analysts say resale is emerging as a climate narrative that investors can quantify, especially as product life extension becomes embedded in corporate sustainability disclosures.
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Global Benchmarks and Competitive Context
The Science Based Targets initiative validated the company’s goals, providing external assurance that its decarbonization strategy falls within recognized climate science thresholds. The validation also puts eBay into direct comparison with technology and retail peers that have set climate targets at different speeds. Amazon pledged to become carbon neutral by 2040. Alibaba committed to carbon neutrality by the end of the decade. Investors say the competitive pressure has sharpened expectations for transparency, interim milestones and disclosure of Scope 3 logistics emissions.
Implications for C-Suite and Investors
Executives across global retail are facing higher scrutiny from regulators, financial institutions and customers on climate governance. SBTi validation has become a shorthand for credibility, yet implementation depends on complex negotiations with carriers, suppliers and consumers. The plan implies higher demand for renewable electricity contracts, digital freight management, disclosures aligned with ISSB and other sustainability reporting frameworks and continued integration of circular commerce strategies.
Global Context
Delivery logistics and resale markets are now viewed as material climate levers in major economies. Policymakers are weighing aviation and maritime decarbonization rules that could reshape shipping costs and speed. The Paris Agreement’s 1.5C pathway remains the touchstone for multinational companies managing climate risk. By setting a net zero date of 2045, eBay positions itself within the international peer group adopting science based targets and more rigorous transition plans.
Whether the company’s circular approach and logistics partnerships can deliver meaningful Scope 3 cuts will be closely tracked, particularly as consumer behavior and supply chain constraints determine the pace of real world emissions reductions.
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