Gucci intensifies eco drive as it unveils 'nature-positive' climate strategy

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 27, 2021

Gucci is deepening its dive into sustainability and on Wednesday unveiled a new evolution of its strategy that takes it “beyond carbon neutrality towards a nature-positive approach”.

The Kering-owned mega-brand said its new Natural Climate Solutions Portfolio “protects and restores critical forests and mangroves, while also investing in regenerative agriculture within its supply chain, and more broadly, to give back to nature”.

The company has been working to be carbon-neutral in its own operations and across its entire supply chain since 2018.

The new strategy continues to prioritise emissions reduction, but also “drives supply chain transformation to create a positive impact on biodiversity and climate”.

So what’s involved in all this? Conserving “critical forests” and restoring and protecting mangroves are key thrusts that take in both its existing eco commitments and add on new initiatives. For instance, it has invested in the Muskitia Blue Carbon REDD+ project in Honduras with its South Pole partner. 

The project will protect nearly 5,000 hectares of mangroves and over 285,000 hectares of forest from deforestation. Mangroves store up to ten times more carbon than mature terrestrial forests, however, 30-50% of the world’s mangroves are already lost and they continue to disappear at a rate of 2% each year.

It’s also working to improve land management through regenerative agriculture. As the first step, it’s working on feasibility studies with Conservation International, South Pole and Native to identify and scale up regenerative agriculture projects within its sourcing regions, “with the aim to source regenerative raw materials for its products”. 

And beyond its own supply chain, it’s “incentivising farmers to switch to regenerative agriculture through carbon farming”. The company has directly funded Native’s newest regenerative projects for wool and leather globally covering 3,075 hectares, allowing for the capture of approximately 25,000 tons of CO2 over the next five years. 

Gucci has also funded woolgrowers in Patagonia to enable them to convert to regenerative grazing on 1,800 hectares of grasslands, “which will promote soil health, water quality, increased biodiversity, animal welfare best practices and carbon sequestration for the long term”. 

It all represents a “shift from the chemically intensive farming that traditionally produces fashion’s raw materials to agricultural systems that actually replenish and strengthen nature rather than depleting it”.

Other parts of the strategy will see an intensification of its use of green energy, the implementation of more sustainable manufacturing and sourcing, and the increased use of recycled and regenerated materials across nylon, cotton, cashmere, polyester, precious metals, plastic and packaging.

Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri said: “The evolution of our strategy incorporates a series of clear climate actions. We are investing in regenerative agriculture as an important pillar of our approach. Led by science, Gucci’s new Natural Climate Solutions Portfolio protects and restores important ecosystems that mitigate climate change, while providing lasting biodiversity and climate benefits for years to come.  

“We want to be part of the solution for nature and climate by mainstreaming practices and systems that will transform nature from being a victim of climate to becoming an actor to change climate, which will ultimately determine the future of our planet.”