Can You Hear The Eco?

From luxury giant Chanel’s new climate mission to new-gen designer Marine Serre’s novel take on upcycling, we take a look at how luxury designers and brands are fashioning a sustainable future.

- IAN LOH

CHANEL

The French luxury house is embarking on a green journey called Mission 1.5°, with an ambitious set of sustainability goals in accordance with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to reduce the mean global temperature increase to 1.5°C. In the document, Chanel pledged to reduce emissions across operations by 50% by 2030 and to reduce supply chain emissions by 40% per unit sold, by the same year. It will move to 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and balance residual carbon emissions by investing in nature-based research and solutions. To implement these broad commitments in its own supply chain, Chanel is also investing in new technologies and start-ups, particularly in the field of raw materials and packaging, as well as in scientific climate research. As such, the brand has recently invested in Finnish start-up Sulapac, a developer of a biodegradable alternative to plastic and Evolve by Nature, a green chemistry company that has created a natural silk-based alternative to some of the toxic chemicals used in textile manufacturing. Andrea d’Avack, Chief Sustainability Officer at Chanel said, “Chanel Mission 1.5° is embedded in our long-term vision and reflects our ambitions to play our part in facing humanity’s biggest challenge and enrol the future of our company in a more sustainable world.”

GUCCI