Looks to Love:
In Good Company
When luxury fashion conglomerate PPR last week announced that it had a new Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of international institutional affairs, we were reminded why we’re such fans of this French company, makers of luxe brands such as Stella McCartney (an ecofab fave), Gucci, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Sergio Rossi, and Puma. And no, it’s not just because PPR is the brains behind some of the most creative and beautiful goods around. It’s because the forward-thinking business has committed to making sustainability one of the highest priorities for its list of high-end labels.
Last year, PPR created PPR HOME, an initiative that set a new standard in sustainability and business practice in the luxury, sport and lifestyle, and retail sectors. CEO Francois-Henri Pinault explained: “My deep conviction that sustainability creates value is part of my strategic vision for PPR. Sustainability can – and must – give rise to new, highly ambitious business models and become a lever of competitiveness for our brands. PPR HOME will provide us with novel, more sustainable approaches to contribute to a better world for the long run.”
We’re especially impressed with PPR Home’s “Creative Sustainability Lab,” a partnership launched with Cradle to Cradle to help lead the industry and foster creativity, innovation, and sustainability. The lab drives PPR Home to challenge traditional approaches and proactively re-think and re-consider product and business development. After all, Cradle to Cradle believes that “good design” of products and services should move beyond typical measures of quality – cost, performance, and aesthetics – to integrate and apply additional objectives addressing environmental and social concerns.
It continues to be huge step for the retail world — and here’s hoping more will follow. (Especially if PPR ends up producing Cradle to Cradle Certified products!) Learn more about PPR’s sustainability efforts at ppr.com.
Photo: 100% recyclable Gucci packaging, ppr.com
