Earth Day: Luxury Brands' Commitments to the Environment

NEWS | April 21, 2020

Visual: © Curioso.Photography

In honor of Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22 and dedicated to the protection of our planet, Printemps.com takes a look at the concrete measures taken by important actors in the luxury industry. From getting rid of single-use plastics to adopting entirely biodegradable packaging and from carbon neutrality to recycling, eco-friendly initiatives are multiplying.

Having been called out for its significant annual contribution to pollution, the fashion industry seems to be taking seriously the current environmental conditions and its place in the ecosystem. Conscious of the necessity of looking after our planet and placing their bets on greater transparency, major luxury brands and groups are making serious commitments to adopting earth-friendly methods.

In Summer 2020, Balenciaga r reused all the set pieces from its 2019 shows. Meanwhile, Gucci put on an entirely carbon-neutral show, whose set design and invitations were made of recycled materials, and has been supporting projects aligned with urban reforestation and carbon neutrality. "A new era of corporate accountability is upon us and we need to be diligent in taking all steps to mitigate our impacts, including being transparent and responsible for [greenhouse gas] emissions across our supply chains," said Marco Bizzarri, Gucci's CEO, in a statement made last year.

Burberry, for their part, has stopped using plastic shopping bags. This small gesture reduces their plastic consumption by 29 tons, and they've also replaced their hangers with compostable alternatives. The British house, accompanied by their partnership with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, has also developed new packaging from recycled coffee cups and is seeking to make all of its plastics reusable by 2025. The initiatives don't stop there: during the COP24 in December 2018, Burberry pledged to reduce their carbon emissions by 30% before 2030. Signed by the Kering group, which also owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and Bottega Veneta, the goal is to achieve carbon-neutrality before 2050.

The Kering Group, who signed the "Fashion Pact" along with Capri Holding (Versace, Jimmy Choo), and Prada, also developed a tool called "EP&L" (Environmental Profit and Loss) to measure its environmental impact. Presented last August during the G7 by the Group's CEO, the Fashion Pact signatories committed to transitioning to reusable energy across the entire production chain between now and 2030. Plus, Kering also announced in September 2019 that it would be compensating its carbon emissions via a forest protection program. Last January, the group announced a 14% decrease in its environmental impact between 2015 and 2018. As further proof of the industry's commitment to the planet, last November Prada took out a 49-million-euro loan whose interest will vary according to whether or not its climate goals are reached, including eco-certifications for all boutiques and the elimination of new nylon before 2021. Indeed, green is the new black!