Technology
Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBRA)
Data as of July 13, 2026
Environment story
Zebra demonstrates moderate environmental performance with significant gaps in disclosed emissions data and net-zero commitments. Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions figures are not disclosed in filed documents, triggering a 15-point penalty. No explicit net-zero target year is disclosed (penalty: 15 points). The company has not publicly documented material investments in physical decarbonization infrastructure. Risk factor disclosures acknowledge regulatory pressures from climate change legislation and ESG requirements but do not detail mitigation actions. The company acknowledges evolving regulatory obligations under the EU AI Act and other emerging climate frameworks, suggesting reactive rather than proactive environmental positioning. No significant toxic waste, water, or habitat controversies are disclosed in the 10-K or proxy, limiting additional penalties. Overall, Zebra's environmental profile reflects insufficient transparency and commitment relative to peer expectations in the technology/manufacturing sector.
Criticisms on file
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Undisclosed Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions; No Net-Zero TargetSource: ZBRA 10-K Risk Factors and MD&A; no emissions data or net-zero commitment disclosed in public filings as of 2025 fiscal year.
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Regulatory Exposure to Climate and ESG RequirementsSource: ZBRA 10-K Risk Factors: 'Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements and other increased regulation of climate change concerns could subject us to additional costs and restrictions...'
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Supply Chain and Product Compliance with Emerging Environmental RegulationsSource: ZBRA 10-K Risk Factors: Notes expanding laws on energy efficiency, recycling, hazardous substance elimination, and battery transportation; company states 'These laws impact our products and negatively affect our ability to manufacture and sell products competitively.'
Disclosed initiatives
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ESG Disclosure and Voluntary ReportingCompany acknowledges creation and publication of voluntary ESG disclosures; states that many statements are based on expectations and assumptions subject to substantial discretion and forecasts.Largely aspirational; no quantified targets or baseline reductions disclosed.
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Product Energy Efficiency and Regulatory ComplianceCompany notes increased demand to meet voluntary criteria related to reduction/elimination of hazardous constituents, increasing energy efficiency, and providing accessibility in offerings.Reactive compliance posture; no evidence of market-leading decarbonization initiatives.
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AI and Operational Efficiency ProgramsCompany developing AI technologies and using AI to support internal operations; states commitment to responsible AI development with governance programs.Potential operational efficiency gains from AI deployment, but emissions impact unquantified.
Social story
Zebra's social performance reflects moderate practices with notable gaps in diversity and pay equity disclosure. CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio is not disclosed, preventing precise assessment but assumed elevated given scale. Leadership diversity metrics are not fully disclosed; the company acknowledges efforts to add diverse directors (five independent directors added since 2020, including Mary McDowell in July 2025) but does not provide workforce or executive-level gender/URG representation percentages. No active documented union-suppression activities or major strikes are disclosed; however, the 10-K risk factor explicitly lists 'union organizing efforts' as a management challenge and cost-control concern. Supply-chain human-rights audits are not detailed; the company references supplier code of conduct compliance requirements but does not disclose audit results or evidence of conflict minerals or forced-labor remediation. Turnover and plant safety data are not disclosed. Overall, Zebra lacks transparent, detailed social metrics expected by institutional investors and scores below sector leaders on diversity and pay equity disclosure.
Criticisms on file
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CEO Pay Ratio Not Disclosed; No Median Worker Pay BenchmarkSource: ZBRA Proxy Statement and 10-K; SEC Pay Ratio disclosure requirement not visible in provided documents; cannot verify Dodd-Frank 953(b) compliance status.
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Leadership and Workforce Diversity Metrics UndisclosedSource: ZBRA Proxy and 10-K; no gender or underrepresented racial group percentages provided for workforce or executive leadership; board diversity described qualitatively only.
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Union Organizing and Labor Cost Management Listed as RiskSource: ZBRA 10-K Risk Factors: 'Managing the cost of labor including any union organizing efforts and our responses to such efforts' listed as business complexity challenge; no specifics on negotiations, complaints, or actual union presence disclosed.
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Supply-Chain Human-Rights Audit Results Not DisclosedSource: ZBRA 10-K Risk Factors: 'Failure of our suppliers, subcontractors, outsource partners, channel partners, and electronics manufacturers to use acceptable legal or ethical business practices could negatively impact our business.' No audit findings, conflict-minerals assessments, or forced-labor statements provided in public filings.
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Plant Safety and Turnover Data Not PublicSource: ZBRA 10-K and Proxy; OSHA injury rates, employee turnover percentages, and safety incident summaries not disclosed.
Disclosed initiatives
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Board Diversity RefreshmentCompany added five independent directors since 2020; welcomed Mary McDowell in July 2025, described as bringing 30+ years of leadership in global technology transformations. Board composition statement notes 'deepening the Board's expertise.'Board-level diversity improved; workforce-level diversity metrics not disclosed.
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Talent Attraction, Retention, and DevelopmentCompany acknowledges competition for highly skilled employees; offers competitive compensation and benefits; emphasizes importance of attracting, retaining, developing, and motivating key personnel.Generic talent-management posture; no quantified metrics on retention, training spend, or career-path outcomes.
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Succession Planning and Executive DevelopmentBoard oversees executive succession planning; recent internal promotion of Melissa Luff Loizides to Chief People Officer effective January 2026; regular management development and talent reviews.Demonstrates commitment to leadership continuity; transparency on broader organizational development limited.
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Supplier Code of Conduct and Compliance RequirementsCompany requires suppliers, subcontractors, and partners to comply with laws on working conditions, employment practices, environmental compliance, and anti-corruption.Policy statement present; audit findings and remediation evidence not disclosed in public filings.
Governance story
Zebra demonstrates strong governance structures with board independence at 82% (9 of 11 directors independent), exceeding the 75% minimum. The company has no dual-class share structure, supporting equal voting rights. Board leadership is appropriately separated (Anders Gustafsson as Chair, William J. Burns as CEO; Michael A. Smith as Lead Independent Director). Board refreshment practices are robust, with five independent directors added since 2020 and third-party facilitated evaluation completed in 2025. Risk oversight is comprehensive, with dedicated committees overseeing cybersecurity, compensation, governance, and related-party transactions. However, annual lobbying spend is not disclosed, preventing assessment of climate-regulation or consumer-protection advocacy positions. No active antitrust, financial-fraud, or material consumer-safety proceedings are disclosed in provided documents. Stock ownership guidelines are in place (CEO: 6x base salary; executives: 4x; directors: 5x board retainer). Overall, Zebra's governance framework is well-designed and transparent; the primary gap is lack of disclosed lobbying expenditures and absence of explicit anti-greenwashing or anti-shareholder-lawsuit commitments.
Criticisms on file
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Lobbying Expenditures Not DisclosedSource: ZBRA 10-K and Proxy Statement; annual lobbying spend and policy positions on climate regulation, consumer protection, or trade policy not disclosed; prevents assessment of alignment with stated ESG commitments.
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Trade Association Alignment with Climate Policy Not DisclosedSource: ZBRA 10-K acknowledges exposure to 'trade policy changes in the U.S. and corresponding actions by other countries,' but does not disclose trade association memberships or positions on climate/environmental regulation.
Disclosed initiatives
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Board Independence and Separation of Powers9 of 11 directors are independent (82%); Chair and CEO roles are separated; Lead Independent Director (Michael A. Smith) appointed; board meets regularly in executive session.Governance framework meets best-practice standards; independent oversight structure is robust.
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Board Refreshment and Succession PlanningFive independent directors added since 2020; third-party facilitated board evaluation completed in 2025; regular director orientation and continuing education programs; annual individual director evaluations.Demonstrates proactive talent management and knowledge renewal at board level.
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Risk Oversight CommitteesAudit Committee oversees cybersecurity, IT, compliance, financial reporting, and related-party transactions; Compensation and Culture Committee oversees pay-for-performance and talent risks; Nominating and Governance Committee oversees board composition and governance practices.Comprehensive committee-based risk management aligned with board strategy.
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Stock Ownership Guidelines and Clawback PolicyCEO: 6x annual base salary; executives: 4x; directors: 5x board retainer; five-year phase-in; 50% retention of after-tax vested shares until threshold reached. Clawback policy covers recoupment of time-based and performance-based equity (vested or unvested).Aligns insider and shareholder interests; strong accountability mechanism in place.
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Cybersecurity and Privacy OversightBoard and Audit Committee provide quarterly oversight of cybersecurity activities; management reports on threat protection, detection, mitigation, remediation, third-party assessments, and incident response; company implements ISO 27001-aligned information security management system and maintains SOC2 reports.Proactive, structured approach to emerging cyber and data-privacy risks.
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Related Party Transaction PolicyPolicy applies to transactions >$120,000 involving directors, officers, 5%+ beneficial owners, and their families; Chief Legal Officer and Audit Committee review and approve transactions.Formal governance mechanism for conflict-of-interest management.
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Say-on-Pay Advisory Vote and Stockholder EngagementAnnual non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation; robust off-season engagement with major stockholders and proxy advisors on governance, compensation, and strategy; feedback reported to Nominating and Governance Committee and Board.Demonstrates receptiveness to shareholder input and transparency in compensation design.
These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of Zebra Technologies Corporation. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open Zebra Technologies Corporation in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.
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