Preserving biodiversity, innovating in a sustainable way, acting for the climate and creating a positive social impact: these are the four pillars on which the commitment of Guerlain, which presented its Report on sustainable development 2020/2021, is based. In synergy with Life 360, the new guidelines for sustainability of the LVMH group, the maison aims to become a reference for the “new luxury” by committing to create natural and sustainable formulas aiming to exceed 90% of ingredients of natural origin. Packaging will also continue to be made in a more sustainable way. Through the transparency platform, Bee Respect also offers behind-the-scenes details of the life cycle of its creations. Finally, the company is transforming its processes to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
“Fourteen years ago we adopted an ambitious and pioneering strategy in terms of sustainability, centered on the bee, the historic symbol of the maison and universal sentinel of the environment – comments Véronique Courtois, Guerlain’s chief executive officer -. And how far we have come since then. When I arrived at Guerlain in 2019, I was very impressed by the high standards in place and the authenticity demonstrated by the teams committed to tackling the challenges of sustainable development. So I decided to accelerate further, to meet the challenges on the horizon like never before. Our strategy is part of the Csr Life 360 roadmap of the LVMH group whose goal is to embody a new luxury that reinvents the standards of the sector and connects them more deeply to sustainable development ».
And he adds: «We have also transformed our mission in order to place the commitment to preserve the wonders of nature and leave them as a legacy to future generations at the center of our work. Nature has inspired us since 1828, guaranteeing the sustainability of our creations and our savoir-faire. Therefore helping to protect it was the most obvious choice to repay us and safeguard the beauty in the world. Bees are undoubtedly one of nature’s most precious miracles. They are the protagonists of our Guerlain for bees conservation program which brings together 9 partnerships. The fundraising we launched for World Bee Day allowed us to raise € 1 million, and to further expand our reach. Our muse Angelina Jolie is also a firm supporter of the maison’s initiatives and has served as an exceptional godmother for the 2021 edition of our Women for bees program together with Unesco, created to initiate women into beekeeping careers ».
Launched in 2016, Life 360 is the new environmental strategy of the LVMH group for the next 3, 6 and 10 years, based on the Life 2020 program (LVMH Initiatives For the Environment). It defines the group’s aspirations that each maison will integrate into its programs
according to 3 themes and 4 ambitious strategic plans according to precise stages and timing.
Creating products in harmony with nature
The first strategic plan envisages creative circularity, in particular by banning virgin plastic by 2026, integrating circular practices such as upcycling, reuse, repair; the second thinks of traceability, for example by imposing a traceability system that covers 100% of our strategic supply channels by 2030