eBay has released its first Climate Transition Plan, outlining how the company will reduce emissions and reach net‑zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045. The plan covers actions across eBay’s operations and its broader business ecosystem. It also sets near‑term milestones and embeds climate action into corporate governance and planning.
The strategy was validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning it with climate science and the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.
The Climate Transition Plan reflects eBay’s commitment to sustainable commerce. It builds on years of progress in cutting emissions, scaling renewable energy, and driving circular economy practices.
The plan also shows how the company will cut emissions in its operations and value chain. This includes transportation, logistics, and the marketplace. At the same time, it aims to grow its global business.
eBay’s Climate Transition Plan: Sustainable Commerce at the Core
eBay’s Climate Transition Plan is a detailed roadmap for climate action through 2045. It identifies both climate risks and opportunities for the business. The plan focuses on four main areas: sustainable commerce, emissions reduction, governance integration, and value chain collaboration.
Sustainable Commerce
The plan emphasizes eBay’s circular marketplace model, which extends the life of products and reduces waste. This model supports resale and reuse, helping customers make more sustainable choices. The company has framed this as a way to grow while cutting environmental impact.
Clear Path to Net Zero
eBay has outlined science‑aligned pathways to reach net‑zero GHG emissions by 2045. These pathways include near-term targets for 2030 and long-term goals for 2045. The SBTi validates them to ensure they align with climate science.
Governance and Planning
Climate action is now embedded into how eBay governs and plans its business. The company has strengthened oversight by senior leadership and aligned climate goals with financial planning. eBay says this integration helps ensure climate‑related decisions influence business outcomes.
Value Chain Collaboration
eBay will partner with carriers, suppliers, policymakers, and its buyers and sellers to cut emissions beyond its own operations. The focus is on expanding low-carbon delivery options. It also aims to reduce emissions from shipping and logistics.
eBay’s Net Zero Targets: 2030 Milestones and Beyond
eBay’s climate goals cover both emissions cuts and long‑term net‑zero targets. These goals are science‑based and validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative. This validation shows that the targets match the reductions needed. They aim to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, which aligns with the Paris Agreement.
Net‑Zero by 2045: eBay has committed to achieving net‑zero GHG emissions across its entire value chain by 2045. This means cutting total emissions by 90% from 2019 levels. Also, we will use strong, lasting carbon removals to offset any emissions left between 2030 and 2045.
2030 Near‑Term Targets: To support the long‑term net‑zero goal, eBay set interim targets for 2030:
- Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% compared with 2019.
- Reduce Scope 3 emissions from downstream transportation and distribution by 27.5% compared with 2019.
Progress to Date: eBay has already achieved significant cuts in operational emissions:
- The company has achieved a 92% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions relative to 2019.
- It has reached 100% renewable electricity for all offices, data centers, and authentication centers ahead of its original 2025 target.
- Downstream transportation and distribution emissions have fallen 21% compared with 2019, moving toward the 27.5% 2030 target.
These results show that eBay is ahead in some areas and making progress in others as it works toward its future climate goals.
Scope 3 Challenges: The largest portion of eBay’s emissions comes from Scope 3, particularly shipping. Shipping accounts for almost 84% of Scope 3 emissions, making it the toughest category to decarbonize. eBay is focusing on partnerships with carriers and low‑carbon options to reduce these emissions over time.
eBay’s Broader Sustainability Initiatives
eBay goes beyond reducing greenhouse gases. It takes various sustainability steps that link climate goals to its business strategy.
- Renewable Energy
eBay achieved its goal of sourcing 100% renewable energy for its operations in 2024, one year ahead of schedule. This renewable energy covers electricity for offices, data centers, and related facilities.
- Circular Economy and Recommerce
eBay focuses on recommerce. This means used and refurbished goods are bought and sold. In 2024, this recommerce activity:
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- Generated about $5 billion in positive economic impact.
- Helped avoid 1.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
- Prevented 70,000 metric tons of waste. These figures show how extending product life can reduce environmental impact.
eBay aims to build on these results by encouraging resale and reuse as mainstream shopping choices. The company views a circular business model as a climate tool and a way to create value for its users.
- Tracking and Transparency
eBay tracks its environmental performance through frameworks like the Task Force on Climate‑Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). It also takes part in the CDP Corporate Questionnaire.
These actions help ensure the e-commerce’s transparency and accountability in climate reporting.
Leading by Example
eBay’s climate goals align it with other tech and retail companies. They have set science-based net-zero targets and interim reduction goals. For example, other e‑commerce and tech firms like Amazon and Alibaba have also set long‑term climate targets. However, their timelines and scopes differ.
Validating targets through the SBTi adds credibility and aligns eBay with companies that aim to match the most ambitious climate science benchmarks. The SBTi’s validation process makes sure that reduction goals are clear. They follow a framework that aims to keep global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
In addition, eBay’s focus on shipping emissions highlights a common challenge for online retail platforms. Many companies are exploring low-carbon logistics. They are using consolidated delivery, local pickup, and shifting modes, like moving from air to ground transport. These steps help cut supply chain emissions.
eBay focuses on circular commerce and sustainable logistics in its transition plan. This aligns environmental efforts with business trends that value resource efficiency and low-carbon operations.
Low-Carbon Innovation for the Future
eBay’s Climate Transition Plan sets a clear and science‑based path to net‑zero GHG emissions by 2045. The plan includes near‑term and long‑term targets that have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The e-commerce company has already achieved major milestones, such as a 92% reduction in direct emissions and 100% renewable electricity by 2024. It also continues to invest in renewable energy, promote reuse and resale, and engage partners to cut emissions across its value chain.
The plan further shows eBay’s goal to include climate action in its strategy, governance, and financial planning. It also illustrates how sustainable commerce and circular economy practices can support long‑term environmental and business goals. As shipping and logistics remain the largest emissions source, future efforts will focus on creative and low‑carbon solutions to meet eBay’s ambitious climate goals by 2045.