, including the luxury industry. Torn between ostentation and craftsmanship traditions, luxury companies
in order to find their place in a post-pandemic world. Indeed, the crisis has further emphasized consumers’
from corporations. For some, it was the occasion to showcase solidarity. In March 2020, the LVMH Group announced that they would produce and distribute free hydroalcoholic gel to hospitals. Similarly, Chanel’s garment workers manufactured face masks that they donated to frontline workers. Nevertheless, beyond symbolic gestures, structural change is expected from luxury groups that are progressively implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies.
Environment, responsible consumption, social issues: what commitments did luxury brands make?
There was a time when the
use of fur was the only controversial topic regarding luxury. However, today, companies’ CSR policies are expected to cover
a wide range of topics, from environmental protection to working conditions and diversity among the workforce.
The reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions is one of the environmental topics that seems to be increasingly institutionalized in the industry. Since 2011, the Kering Group has been carrying out an annual offsetting approach and committed to achieve full carbon neutrality across its supply chain in 2020. In 2016, the LVMH Group even launched its own Carbon Fund.
When it comes to
diversity and equality, the main French luxury groups seem to have made efforts towards a more equal gender representation. The bill regarding gender balance on company boards that was passed by the French Parliament in 2011 might have facilitated this development.
Corporate social responsibility: a necessity in the digital age
In addition to being an opportunity for reinvention, corporate social responsibility has become a slippery slope for luxury companies. With the rise of the
‘conscious consumer’, corporations are constantly under scrutiny. Dismissiveness and communication mistakes are punished severely in the social media sphere. Though it can be hard to quantify the economic consequences of
this type of bad buzz, CSR measures serve risk prevention purposes. Acquiring the support of personalities renowned for their commitments also helps building credibility. In 2020, Emma Watson joined Kering’s board of administrators. One year before, Stella McCartney, a pioneer of sustainable fashion, joined LVMH as a special advisor on sustainability.
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