eBay qZERO®
Sustainability Score
Since its founding in 1995, eBay has been a pioneer in online shopping, creating a platform where anyone, anywhere, can connect and trade. What began with a simple idea — to build a community-powered marketplace — has grown into a global movement of sustainable commerce. Rooted in the values of accessibility and opportunity, eBay empowers people to buy and sell pre-loved items, giving products longer lives and reducing environmental impact.
Over nearly three decades, eBay’s spirit of innovation has never wavered. With every tool developed and every partnership nurtured, the brand reaffirms its commitment to a circular economy that benefits people and the planet. Today, eBay inspires conscious choices, offering millions of shoppers a way to shop smarter, support reuse, and unlock real value — all while contributing to a more sustainable future.
This means eBay are above average compared to other companies in the E-Commerce.
eBay positioning within the E-Commerce
The e-commerce industry faces important sustainability challenges affecting people and the planet. Common concerns include the heavy use of packaging materials, carbon emissions from transport and delivery networks, and the high energy demands of data centres. Social issues, such as fair labour practices and protecting consumer privacy, add further complexity. Strong governance — clear accountability and transparent reporting — is equally crucial, yet often overlooked. These challenges highlight the need for responsible, forward-thinking approaches across the sector.
Compared to the broader e-commerce industry, eBay shows stronger environmental leadership, with significant efforts to promote reuse and reduce waste. Its commitment to social impact, including supporting small businesses and championing fair opportunities, stands above the sector average. However, there is still work to do: eBay’s governance, while solid, offers room for improvement, particularly in how decisions are made and shared with the public. By enhancing its transparency and accountability, eBay can set even higher standards for responsible commerce.
eBay is a global online marketplace where consumers can discover everything from fashion and electronics to homeware and collectables. Whether buying new, refurbished, or pre-loved items, shoppers can access a wide range of products at competitive prices. With millions of listings updated daily, eBay connects individuals and businesses, offering secure transactions, easy delivery options, and a platform that makes shopping simple, personal, and community-driven.
eBay makes it easier for shoppers to make sustainable choices without compromising prices. By championing the resale of pre-loved and refurbished goods, eBay supports a circular economy where buying second-hand is better for the planet and kinder to wallets. Through trusted seller programmes and clear product descriptions, eBay ensures that quality and value go hand in hand, helping consumers shop smarter, reduce waste, and feel good about every purchase.
A strong commitment to the circular economy is at the heart of eBay’s operations. By empowering people to buy and sell pre-loved items, eBay helps extend the life of products, reduce waste, and make better use of the world's resources. Beyond the marketplace, eBay ensures responsible sourcing and ethical standards are built into its platform. The company also invests in energy efficiency across its operations, taking clear steps to lower its carbon footprint. Its dedication to diversity, inclusion, and ethical business practices strengthens eBay’s role as a brand that looks beyond profit, towards creating positive change for people and the planet.
eBay shows a strong commitment across several critical environmental areas. The brand leads with thoughtful land use and biodiversity efforts, reflecting a genuine respect for natural ecosystems and resource conservation. Its energy management practices also stand out, clearly focusing on using energy more efficiently across its global operations. eBay’s achievement in securing environmental certifications highlights its dedication to recognised, high standards. However, there is still room for growth. Opportunities remain to strengthen materials sourcing practices and enhance environmental compliance. By addressing these areas, eBay can build an even more complete and future-ready approach to sustainability.
eBay shows a strong commitment to creating positive social change. Its focus on community engagement and corporate giving reflects a genuine investment in supporting people and strengthening local economies. The company’s active work in promoting diversity and inclusion highlights a belief that opportunity should be open to all. However, some areas would benefit from further attention. Strengthening data privacy measures and enhancing health and safety standards would help protect both users and employees. Improving cyber risk management is another crucial step. By building on its strong foundations, eBay can continue to lead with a social sustainability approach that truly empowers its community.
eBay demonstrates strong resilience and a clear commitment to responsible business practices. Its achievements in governance certifications reflect a serious approach to long-term stability and adherence to recognised standards. However, there are important areas that call for further focus. Strengthening business ethics and reinforcing corporate compliance behaviours would help deepen trust and integrity across the organisation. Board accountability and transparency improvements could also bring eBay closer to global best practices. While the foundations are solid, continuing to raise standards in governance will help eBay deliver even greater confidence to its community, investors, and broader society.
eBay’s unique strength lies in empowering people to choose better for themselves and for the planet. As one of the world’s largest marketplaces for pre-loved, refurbished, and rare finds, eBay makes it simple to extend the life of products and reduce waste. Every purchase on eBay supports a more circular way of shopping, allowing consumers to find quality items at great value. With trusted seller protections, easy search tools, and a strong community spirit, eBay creates a shopping experience that is accessible, sustainable, and full of possibility.
eBay is a positive choice for shoppers seeking a more sustainable way to buy and sell. With a strong foundation across environmental, social, and governance areas, the company is committed to making commerce more circular, inclusive, and responsible. While there is always room to grow, particularly in governance and data protection, eBay’s current efforts offer reassurance to eco-conscious consumers.
EBay is creating a marketplace where people and the planet can thrive together by helping extend the life of millions of products through resale and refurbishment, promoting diversity, and investing in energy-efficient operations. Your shopping choices have real power: every second-hand purchase, every refurbished item, and every conscious click supports a lower-impact future.
eBay continues to build on its sustainability journey, aiming for stronger transparency, enhanced social impact, and an even greater contribution to circular commerce. For consumers, this means growing opportunities to shop with purpose — finding quality products, supporting communities, and caring for the environment, all in one place.
By shopping thoughtfully on eBay, you choose to make a difference — one item, story, and positive step at a time.
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