eBay Sustainability Review

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eBay qZERO® Sustainability Score

3.5 / 5.0

Advanced Sustainability *

November 20, 2024

About eBay

Headquarters: 2025 Hamilton Ave 95125-5904 San Jose Santa Clara California United States

eBay Inc., a prominent player in the e-commerce industry, offers a vast online marketplace connecting millions of buyers and sellers globally. Founded in 1995, eBay has grown to enable consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer sales, providing a versatile platform for new and pre-owned items. eBay's innovative auction-style listings and "Buy It Now" options enhance purchasing flexibility. The brand emphasises security and builds trust through its dispute resolution process, ensuring a safe shopping environment. eBay’s international presence, user-friendly interface, and diverse product range continue to attract a broad audience, making it a self-sustained e-commerce leader.

eBay Sustainability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0

This means eBay are above average compared to other companies in the E-Commerce.

Industry positioning

eBay
Industry average
5
4
3
2
1
0
3.5
3.0
Overall
3.9
3.2
Environmental
3.3
3.0
Social
3.5
3.6
Governance

eBay positioning within the Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Main Sustainability Issues in the E-Commerce Industry

The e-commerce industry faces several sustainability issues, including environmental challenges such as waste management and carbon emissions, social considerations involving supply chain ethics and labour practices, as well as governance matters related to transparency and data privacy.

eBay Inc. Sustainability Comparison

eBay performs relatively well compared to the broader e-commerce sector. Environmentally, eBay excels, surpassing industry averages. Socially, eBay shows a more robust commitment to community and workplace standards. In governance, though the industry achieves slightly higher ratings, eBay demonstrates solid practices that align with best practices. Overall, eBay leads in environmental and social areas while maintaining strong governance, positioning itself as a responsible player in the online commerce arena.

How does eBay focus on You?

eBay's brand, by eBay Inc., offers a diverse range of consumer goods including electronics, fashion, home essentials, and more. These products are oriented towards delivering quality and value, catering to various consumer preferences and necessities.

Balancing affordability with sustainability, eBay encourages sellers to offer competitively priced products while promoting conscious shopping choices among consumers. They support the resale of pre-owned products, extending the life cycle of goods, which is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. eBay also facilitates consumer access to eco-friendly products through credible labelling, thereby promoting informed purchasing choices that align with sustainable values. This economic approach provides a dual benefit by saving money for buyers and contributing to environmental preservation, demonstrating a commitment to both accessible consumer goods and sustainable practices.

eBay Sustainability Rating Breakdown:

eBay Overall Sustainability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0

eBay's sustainability strategy is defined by three unique elements. Firstly, it supports a circular economy, encouraging the resale of pre-loved items to minimise waste. Secondly, it is focused on renewable energy, making concerted efforts to power its data centres with sustainable energy sources. Lastly, eBay is committed to transparent and ethical supply chains, ensuring fair practices while reducing environmental impacts. These initiatives not only mitigate eBay's environmental footprint but also empower their community of buyers and sellers to make responsible choices. Together, these measures align eBay with a more sustainable future.

eBay Environmental Rating is 3.9 out of 5.0

Environmental Practices Analysis for eBay Inc.

eBay Inc. excels in several environmental dimensions, particularly in land use and biodiversity, where it shows notable performance. The company also achieves an impressive level of environmental certifications, which underscores its commitment to recognised standards. Additionally, eBay demonstrates robust initiatives in managing climate risk and water management, reflecting a solid grasp of essential environmental issues. Despite these strengths, there is room for meaningful improvement in environmental compliance, an area that lags behind compared to other environmental metrics. Addressing these compliance challenges could bolster eBay's overall environmental sustainability efforts, aligning all aspects of its environmental strategy with best practices.

eBay Social Rating is 3.3 out of 5.0

Social Sustainability Summary

eBay Inc. demonstrates strong social sustainability practices in areas such as community engagement and corporate philanthropy, reflecting significant commitment to social contributions and engagement. Their efforts in diversity and inclusion also stand out, showcasing a dedication to cultivating an inclusive environment. Furthermore, eBay excels in training and education, highlighting investments in workforce development.

However, there are notable areas for improvement. Concerns around data privacy and cyber risk management suggest the need for enhanced protective measures. Additionally, while maintaining adequate product quality management, areas like health and safety, as well as human rights practices, indicate potential for further growth. Addressing these issues is essential for a more robust social performance profile.

eBay Governance Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0

eBay Inc. Governance Practices

eBay Inc. demonstrates solid governance practices with particular strengths in governance-related certifications, reflecting the company's commitment to upholding high regulatory standards. Their business resilience and sustainability efforts are commendable, showing a robust framework for future challenges. Strong business transparency indicates an openness in operations, favourably impacting stakeholder trust. However, there is room for improvement in business ethics, suggesting a need for enhanced ethical frameworks and conduct standards. Corporate compliance behaviours and board accountability are competent but could benefit from focused enhancements to bolster governance effectiveness further.

What makes eBay stand out in the Industry?

eBay's main unique selling proposition lies in its diverse marketplace, accommodating both buyers and sellers with a wide array of products, ranging from the everyday items to rare collectibles. It provides an auction-style listing format, enabling consumers to bid and potentially purchase items at lower prices. Additionally, eBay ensures secure transactions through robust buyer protection policies and integrates advanced search functions that enhance user experience. The platform also supports individual entrepreneurs and businesses, offering straightforward tools and guidance to launch and manage their online stores, thus creating opportunities for e-commerce growth.

So is eBay sustainable?

eBay Inc.: A Snapshot of Sustainability

As a shopper looking into the sustainability of eBay Inc., it's helpful to understand how the company measures up in terms of environmental responsibility, social responsibility, and governance. These elements provide a holistic view of how eBay operates sustainably.

Regarding environmental efforts, eBay Inc. demonstrates a competent dedication to reducing its ecological footprint. This is evident in their practices aimed at lessening environmental impact, which positively contributes to their overall sustainability profile.

Socially, the brand reveals a reasonable commitment to societal responsibilities. This includes aspects like community engagement, fair treatment of employees, and ethical business conduct. Such initiatives play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and ethical marketplace.

In terms of governance, eBay's practices are structured to ensure transparency and accountability. Reliable governance indicates a well-managed company that prioritises sound ethical standards and regulatory compliance, which are vital for trust-building among shoppers and investors alike.

Overall, eBay Inc.'s balanced approach across these areas indicates a reasonably sustainable operation. While there is room for growth, their current efforts provide consumers with the assurance that purchasing through eBay supports a brand committed to improving sustainability.

* Disclaimer: We use publicly available information, licensed data, information generated by artificial intelligence tools and information obtained directly from brands in order to determine our Sustainability Ratings. We recognise that you will be consulting various sources in order to do your due diligence and/or to inform your buying decisions, which may include considering our Sustainability Ratings. Please note that our Sustainability Ratings are for general information only and you must not use any part of the content on our site (including the Sustainability Ratings) for commercial or business purposes without first obtaining a licence to do so from us or our licensors. The Sustainability Ratings are not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees that the content on our site or the Sustainability Ratings are accurate, complete or up to date. We therefore disclaim all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on such content by any visitor to our site, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Please refer to our Terms of Service or contact us at if you have any questions.

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