Kering and BSR publish new climate change report

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Nov 4, 2015

Luxury fashion houses have a particular sensitivity to climate change, due to their reliance on high quality raw materials. These come from production systems that are limited geographically, which makes them particularly vulnerable to climate variations.

It's therefore important for the industry to receive guidance on building new, more resilient business models, which is where a new report by brandhouse Kering and global non-profit business network Business for Social Responsibility comes in.

Called "Climate change: implications and strategies for the Luxury Fashion sector", the report aims to help luxury fashion companies understand their specific vulnerabilities to climate change. It looks at different aspects, such as carbon emissions from the supply chain, and also analyses the current and future climate risks for cotton, cashmere, vicuna, silk, beef and calf leather, and sheep and lamb leather. The report states that solutions at the base of the supply chain can deliver a multitude of social, environmental and business benefits.

“Given the luxury sector’s reliance on high quality raw materials, we must understand the potential vulnerabilities that climate change will pose to them and be proactive in building resilience across our supply chains,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of international institutional affairs, Kering, “In fact, implementing an ambitious climate strategy at a company level is non-negotiable. By doing so, businesses will have opportunities to reduce risk and deliver against their business goals, while at the same time making significant contributions to the environment and society more broadly.”
 
“All businesses must prepare for and combat the effects of climate change,” said Aron Cramer, President and CEO, BSR. “This report shows how climate change is affecting the Luxury fashion industry. Crucially, it presents solutions that will help Luxury sector executives protect the availability of high-quality raw materials at the heart of their value proposition from the effects of climate change.”