Future LIFE New York: LVMH reaffirms sustainability commitments, highlighting actions by Maisons in North America
LVMH
·
© DR
A month after the Future LIFE Paris event, LVMH North America Chairman & CEO Anish Melwani and Sylvie Bénard, LVMH Group Senior Vice President Environment, welcomed senior executives from LVMH Maisons in New York to highlight initiatives by the Group and its Maisons based in North America to uphold the highest levels of environmental performance. At the same time, the third edition of LIFE in Stores, a program to improve the energy performance of retail spaces at LVMH stores, took place in New York from October 22-24.
LVMH has been engaged in protecting the environment for more than 27 years and has always made environmental performance a strategic growth pillar. In 2012, this commitment took on tangible form through the global LIFE (LVMH Initiatives For the Environment) program, which has been embedded in the strategic planning of LVMH’s 75 Maisons since 2015. In 2016, LVMH further strengthened this policy, defining four objectives for 2020: improve the environmental performance of all its products, apply the highest standards for sourcing, improve key environmental performance indicators for all sites, and reduce CO2 emissions.
A month after Future LIFE Paris, the event at LVMH headquarters in New York highlighted the Group’s accomplishments in four areas and presented a series of concrete goals. Senior leaders from LVMH Maisons, including Louis Vuitton, Sephora, Benefit Cosmetics, Fresh, Marc Jacobs and Colgin Cellars, presented the sustainability best practices and steps their companies have taken to meet and exceed responsible environmental standards in areas ranging from product eco-design, sourcing and waste management, to energy consumption at stores and production sites and biodiversity. Sephora US, for example, announced that all of its stores, headquarters and distribution centers are now using 100% renewable energy.
Gabriela Hearst, whose namesake brand is widely recognized as one of the leading emerging luxury fashion brands in environmental responsibility, talked about the pioneering carbon-neutral runway show for her Spring-Summer 2020 collection. Sustainable fashion experts Julie Gilhart and Cara Smyth also shared their perspectives on emerging issues and the evolution of customer expectations.
In conjunction with the agenda of presentations, students from Ivy League universities and journalists were invited to take a closer look at the LVMH Group’s environmental policy and the initiatives pursued during a “Green Journey”, including a private tour of the LIFE in Stores exhibition. Presented at LVMH headquarters in New York on October 22-24, LIFE in Stores features international exhibitors specialized in lighting solutions and lights.
The event provided a chance for LVMH to underline the central contribution to its sustainability commitments made by improved energy performance across the retail networks of its Maisons. The Green Journey also invited students and journalists to take part in workshops on environment at Marc Jacobs and Fresh, and to visit Bvlgari and Louis Vuitton stores.