Sustainable Luxury, Beauty & Sport

The fifth edition of the Natural Beauty Summit 2009, organized by ITEC France, took place in Paris last November, 23rd to 24th and gathered 200 participants from the cosmetics industry.

1. Emmanuelle Bassmann from In-Trend Ltd: a London-based beauty and anti-aging trend analyst.
2. Sandie Jaidane from SJC consultancy: a Paris-based natural and organics market expert.
3. Michel Gutsatz from The Scriptorium Company: an international branding expert.

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Discover, how the diamond industry (at least one of their actor) is heading towards more Corporate Responsibility. Get the presentation that Mrs Iris van der Veken, Manager Corporate Affairs Global of Rosy Blue - one of the most renowned diamond and jewelry companies - www.rosyblue.com - gave during the 2009 Antwerp Diamond Symposium. Get the 2008 Rosy Blue CSR Report.

In preview, an excerpt from the UNCTAD seminar debriefing on « Redefining Sustainability in the International Agenda » which took place Jan 20-21, 2010 in Geneva.

« The fashion and luxury industries have the strategic potential to shape consumer values and aspirations and to redefine the concept of excellence in a way that goes beyond traditional economic aspects to integrate social and environmental elements.

Luxury production and sustainable biodiversity are not complete opposites; many luxury items were originally crafted by skilled artisans in indigenous communities. They were not made to be disposable, but to last over generations.

CITES has species listed that have gained in economic importance. There is still a struggle to get species on list and in appendices, such as the bluefin tuna, which because of overfishing, will soon become a luxury product. Most industries should be checking the CITES lists for compliance. However, trade in wildlife products that are legally acquired can represent enormous income for local communities; for example, ranching and farming of reptiles have helped to increase species population, like salt water crocodiles in Australia. Such conventions and their quotas are not a burden to business, but allow for species continuation for sustainable business. The trade in species, and not just endangered species, is huge. CITES could work in a way that it becomes a certification system for sustainable trade.

Giving up trade in an unsustainably produced product does not equate to giving up business opportunity; in fact the opposite is true, as consumers become more aware and brand loyalty can diminish if products are seen as unethical. Often, reactive behaviour leads to proactive behaviour on the part of the industry to meet consumer expectations of quality. Luxury product consumption is minute compared to mainstream products, yet it is an aspirational form of consumption that influences the mainstream.

Because luxury operates on a scale much smaller than mass retail, and with higher margins, it is able to handle issues more quickly and effectively, and to drive innovative technologies in sustainable luxury. The luxury industry should achieve excellence in its own operations and supply chains, and thus create new trends, values, and ethics.

Every level of partnership is still necessary to take the agenda forward, including measures such as signing up to sustainability principles of NGOs such as Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network. One hundred percent traceability and transparency are still among the greatest goals to be achieved. It is clear that the younger generation is driving this transformation….

If you want to get the full report, drop us an email at contact(at)wholebeaut(dot)ch.

The reported human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe are of grave concern to all who advocate responsible practices in the jewellery supply chain.

The RJC Executive Committee has authorised the distribution of the attached RJC Statement to Members on Marange Diamonds and the RJC Certification System, so as to alert Members to their responsibilities to strictly adhere to the recent decision of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). 

Specifically, RJC reminds its members that no one should be dealing in recently exported Marange diamonds and are therefore expected to demonstrate due diligence as they continue to fully comply with the KPCS and World Diamond Council System of Warranties. Members are advised to exercise extreme caution when buying rough diamonds on the market to ensure that they do not originate from Marange, despite the current KPCS suspension. Once the KP Monitor is in place in Zimbabwe, all exports from Marange must bear the signature of the Monitor on the KP Certificate. Source : RJC. Full RJC Statement

Growing competition for scarce water resources is a growing business risk, a major economic threat, and a challenge for the sustainability of communities and the ecosystems upon which they rely. It is an issue that has serious implications for the stability of countries in which businesses operate, and for industries whose value chains are exposed to water scarcity.

Charting our water future: Economic frameworks to inform decision-making shows that while meeting competing demands for water will be a considerable challenge, it is entirely possible to close the growing gap between water supply and demand. This report provides greater clarity on the scale of the water challenge and how it can be met in an affordable and sustainable manner.

The report offers case studies from four countries with drastically different water issues, which will collectively account for 40 percent of the world’s population, 30 percent of global GDP and 42 percent of projected water demand in 2030: China, India, South Africa and Brazil. The report’s methodology identifies supply- and demand-side measures that could constitute a more cost effective approach to closing the water gap and achieve savings in each country. McKinsey Company