Mardi, 7 of septembre of 2010
Can you afford not to be concerned !
Learn from GUCCI, JAEGER-LECOULTRE, ROSY BLUE DIAMONDS, WWF, UNCTAD, HEC Lausanne University and many more luxury brands, NGO and Corporate Responsibility experts.
Join the leaders of the Sustainable Luxury community for a one day highly interactive workshop on September 28, 2010 in Lausanne/Switzerland, to learn, share, network and experiment among CR peers, NGO, Academia and experts.
Unique workshop.
Early Bird price until August 25, 2010.
Kao Corp., a major Japanese manufacturer of chemical products, announced, that it won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for the Ninth Green Sustainable Chemistry (GSC) Award. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/029984.html
More news on Kao Corp CSR activities and involvments. http://www.kao.com/group/en/group/csr.html
Gucci’s newly designed packaging is FSC-certified and recyclable. Image courtesy of Gucci.
« If we wait for customers to make sustainable development a condition for purchasing, then nothing will happen. It’s as if green products were somehow not normal. They are normal, it is the other products that are not normal. It’s up to us to work out how to make green products the new normal. » –
as said by PPR (which owns Gucci Group) chairman and chief executive officer François-Henri Pinault weighed in on customers unpreparedness to pay extra for sustainable development, in an interview with WWD.
The newly designed luxury packaging has undergone a major transformation. According to the press release, the bags, boxes, and tissue paper no longer have plastic laminate surfaces (not uncommon in luxury packaging); ribbon and garment bags have been switched from polyester to cotton; and the bags provide transparency and read: « This shopping bag is FSC certified and made of 100% recyclable material ».
The luxury brand is also cutting down on excess packaging altogether. Shoes will be packed in one flannel instead of two. Gift boxes will only be given out when requested. Gucci is going to replace all of its mannequins with a new eco-friendly version, designed by Frida Giannini, made with shockproof polystyrene–a long-lasting and 100% recyclable raw material–fully made in Italy and finished with water-based paints.
Surely these efforts are applaudable, but replacing all the mannequins? We’re not sure what they’re planning to do with the old ones but it would make a lot more sense to hold on to them before creating and replacing more long-lasting mannequins. Apart from packaging Gucci is pursuing energy-saving initiatives in their retail stores and also aims to reach the following targets by the end of this year: a reduction of 35 tons of plastic waste; a reduction of 1,400 tons of paper consumption; a reduction of about 10,000 tons of Co2 emissions; and a reduction of about 4 million litres of gas oil consumption. Source PPR press release.
Even the world’s mega-rich are feeling the effects of the worst recession in seven decades. Luxury isn’t what it used to be. Conspicuous consumption is frowned upon and greed has been replaced by a new frugality, according to research. Pedraza predicts there will be a temperate, moderate approach to luxury in the next decade. »I think it will take at least 24 months to get to the level of 2007. And we will get there differently by selling more value, more classic luxury than we will with frivolous luxury. And it will be spending by fewer people » he said. Luxury brands will also have to up their game to get consumers through the door and then out with bundles of luxury buys.« Brands are starting to understand they need to deliver impeccable customer service and experience and to inspire customer loyalty. They need to do something far more special for their clients, » he added.
Reuter Life!.By Patricia Reaney .
