Sustainable Luxury, Beauty & Sport

Lausanne, Switzerland

The debate surrounding sustainable luxury is not new, but very prevailing as luxury consumers’ expectations and behaviors evolve rapidly. The traditional definition of luxury as ‘anything unneeded’ is neither helpful nor relevant in today’s markets. Luxury has become both a commendable and widely obtainable need and necessity.  

When it comes to corporate responsibility, luxury companies don’t become model citizens overnight. But merely complying with public demands for responsible practices won’t protect them very long or even contribute to solve social or environmental problems.

But, how to be good and do well ?                           

What do the terms such as ethical consumerism or discerning luxury consumption really tell us about future luxury spending habits? How to go beyond mere compliance to gain a competitive advantage? How best in class luxury companies succeed in their endeavor of changing their stakeholders’ behaviors? How to make a real difference to society in reinventing a new business model? How to future-proof its company and ensure sustained value for all stakeholders ?

The Atelier of Sustainable Excellence™ aims to provide a learning & sharing platform for engaged CSR/Sustainability professionals from the luxury/prestige sectors, academia and non-governemental/not for profit organisations to :

• Anticipate the trends shaping the luxury industry
• Share business initiatives addressing social and environmental challenges.
• Experiment sustainable excellence during a highly interactive “GameShop”.

Provisional program and confirmed speakers.

• Mr Burak Cakmak, GUCCI, CSR Director, Keynote speaker
• Prof. Sandor Czellar, PhD, Marketing Professor, HEC Lausanne University
• Mrs Iris Maria Alexis Van der Veken, Rosy Blue Diamonds, Manager Corporate Affairs. Chair, United Nation Global Compact Network Belgium
• Mrs Corinne Paget-Blanc, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Communication Director
• Mr Christopher H. Cordey, Wholebeauty, Chief Catalyst Officer
• Mrs Veerle Vrolijk-van Wauwe – Transparence SA, CEO
• Powered by LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, participants will build a common vision of the luxury goods industry in 2030. They will test how their  informed understandings of this industry and its interactions with key stakeholders –be they investors, consumers, retailers, environmental activists, or members of supply chains –  shape their future business models. The expected output will be a glimpse into the core values that the luxury goods industry will need to promote, as a whole, to future-proof itself and ensure sustained value for all its stakeholders. This session will be facilitated by Mrs Joyce Miller, PhD and Mr Eli de Friend, Caprese

Program may subject to change. Number of participants will be limited. Registration and inquiries

Sustainable development, CSR or sustainability (whatever the terms and definition) represents certainly one of the 21^st century’s greatest opportunity; even more for luxury brands. So, it is no surprise to notice that most luxury companies, despite their slowness, head towards a strategic integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR). To evolve in that direction, they will have to systematically consider environmental and social impacts more seriously, in addition to ensuring their financial sustainability. It will induce a deep mind shift and change in the way they think, behave and  manage luxury brands; and especially among today’s “oldish” and conservative board room.

Present situation. Nowadays, CSR consideration is growing and is regarded as a crucial dimension to judge companies’ quality. Luxury brands have to improve in two dimensions – People, Planet – hence in making a Profit, as new ethical luxury clients are growing in share of voice and power. Even if CSR is more widely adopted around the world, a gap is growing between people expectations and the real implications for companies, giving birth to new business opportunities. In the luxury industry, traditional well-known brands or groups have already implemented CSR initiatives, mainly driven by cost savings and reputation management. Some new luxury brands, launched in the last few years, have built their strategy around CSR.

Rising trend.Numerous researches show that sustainable development is a rising trend within the luxury industry. An even increasing number of brands communicate their implications and most managers are persuaded that companies will increase their sustainable investments. Although CSR in the luxury industry is an emerging trend, stakeholders and market pressure, economic cycle and globalization will push companies to act and evolve toward CSR 2.0.

Perceived obstacles The vast majority of luxury brands have not been very active, mainly because of:

• Lack of understanding and expertise about CSR and/or sustainability.
• Perceived incompatibility of CSR with luxury values.
• Somehow conservative attitude.
• A generational gap of current decision maker
• Greed
• Weak market or government pressure.
• Fear of greenwashing
• The perception of high financial investments without guaranteed ROI.
• Supply chain complexity.
• The size and ownership of the business

Despite these obstacles, luxury companies have an opportunity to evolve to stay competitive and leverage the benefits of sustainability.

Real benefits – not a cost. By integrating a CSR program, luxury companies are expected to reduce their impact on the environment and increase their social considerations without jeopardizing their economic performance.  Companies will benefit from an improved brand reputation, a deeper relationship with and understanding of all stakeholders, higher productivity, and innovation which leads to increased profits and shareholder value.

How responsible are you ?

contact(at)wholebeauty.ch