Gucci says it's now carbon-neutral

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 12, 2019

It used to be that what mattered in fashion was the trend. Today though, consumers aren't only buying a label because of the product it turns out or even the relative prestige of that label. In fact, other issues count these days, including authenticity, ethics and the all-important sustainability. So it’s significant that Gucci said on Thursday that it’s now completely carbon-neutral.

“To build on longstanding efforts to reduce environmental impacts and drive positive change,” it said, “Gucci announced today that it is offsetting all remaining Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions annually from its own operations and the entire supply chain through four critically important projects that support forest conservation around the world. As an unprecedented commitment to sustainability leadership in luxury and fashion, Gucci’s supply chain has become carbon-neutral.”

It has been “operationally embedding its long-term sustainability strategy into the business” in recent years and has taken this latest step “in recognition that additional measures are required [now] given the urgent need for climate action.”

In that respect, it's recognising a key trend in which consumers may be less engaged in politics, but they expect the companies whose products they buy to do as much as they can about key issues and will vote with their wallets, even if they don't actually vote at the ballot box.

As well as offsetting its carbon footprint through support of projects, other actions taken by the company include a series of initiatives around low-impact alternatives and sustainable materials, sustainable sourcing, and manufacturing efficiencies to avoid and reduce its impact across the supply chain. 

It’s increasing the use of renewable energy in its operations, stores, offices and warehouses from 70% currently to 100% by as soon as next year. This transition already achieved a reduction of around 45,800 tons of CO2 in 2018.

It’s also working to reduce materials wastage and use of water, upcycling more, using technology to reduce its impact, relying more on organic fibres or sustainable materials like Econyl and much more.
 
As part of a comprehensive approach to account for all its GHG emissions associated with its business activities, Gucci said it has implemented “a hierarchy of actions to avoid, reduce, restore and offset its GHG emissions. In so doing, [it’s] establishing a new pathway to carbon neutrality highlighting the necessity for businesses to be responsible and accountable for all the emissions across their supply chains.”

The company also said that transparency is important and it will continue to measure and monitor its full environmental impact through its annual Environmental Profit and Loss (EP&L) account. 

The supply chain is responsible for the bulk of its emissions (around 90%) as is generally the case with all luxury fashion companies and it said it has made "significant inroads in line with its targets and with its new carbon-neutral approach.”

 “A new era of corporate accountability is upon us and we need to be diligent in taking all steps to mitigate our impacts, including being transparent and responsible for our GHG emissions across our supply chains,” said Marco Bizzarri, President & CEO of Gucci.