LVMH marked International Day for Biological Diversity by reaffirming groundbreaking engagement alongside UNESCO to protect the environment

With the global upheaval triggered by the Covid-19 crisis, LVMH, a winner of the World Branding Awards, is more determined than ever to pursue initiatives to preserve the environment. In conjunction with the International Day for Biological Diversity which took place on 22 May, the luxury brand reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development alongside UNESCO, with which it has partnered since 2019 to support the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.

“Nature is the source for the creation of our products. It is our duty to protect it: committing to the preservation of biodiversity is one of the strategic pillars of LVMH’s environmental programme LIFE,” states Antoine Arnault, member of the Board of Directors of LVMH.

LVMH has long considered the protection of natural ecosystems an absolute imperative. This is an integral part of a long-term vision and a pillar of the Group’s enduring success, placing priority on preserving nature, whose resources are essential to the exceptional creations of LVMH Maisons.

LVMH takes action each day to achieve tangible progress. The Group achieved in 2019 its goal of a 25% reduction in C02 emissions between 2012 and 2020, a key element in the roadmap of our LIFE 2020 environmental programme, whilst at the same time recording business growth during the period. LVMH is set on affirming and accelerating this vision of sustainable and virtuous growth as the economic recovery begins.

In 2019 LVMH strengthened its commitment to protecting the environment with the signature of a five-year partnership with UNESCO to support the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. This ambitious project aims to safeguard biodiversity across the planet thanks to international cooperation.

Within the scope of this partnership, the LVMH Group is playing an active role in UNESCO’s MAB programme, joining the agency at major international events and contributing to scientific research initiatives sponsored by the programme. In addition, the luxury goods company is making selected infrastructure resources available to help establish pilot sites for conservation and responsible long-term protection of biodiversity.

This partnership makes a decisive contribution to advancing concrete initiatives by LVMH and its Maisons, which are able to draw on scientific support from UNESCO via its 686 biosphere reserves to identify solutions for sustainable sourcing programmes. LVMH Maisons benefit from a network of experts at the regional level and in different disciplines as they move forward with their actions to protect biodiversity.

Furthermore, this partnership facilitates the rollout of innovative solutions for natural resource management and the identification of products and new markets based on the quality and traceability of materials used.

Speaking at a round table organised by UNESCO for International Day for Biological Diversity, LVMH Environmental Director Hélène Valade said: “It is crucial to consider an economic recovery that is respectful of the environment and social issues. The crisis has heightened the importance of a certain number of topics, notably that of environmental accounting, which LVMH is working on with the Agro Paris Tech chair.”

All LVMH Maisons share this vision and are pursuing concrete initiatives to mitigate the environmental impact of their activities. Guerlain is a prime example of this engagement. Within the scope of the partnership between LVMH and UNESCO MAB, Guerlain joined forces with the agency to train and provide long-term support for the creation of an international community of beekeepers.

The goal is to develop high-quality beekeeping operations in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves to serve as a template for continued expansion of the network worldwide. In conjunction with this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity, Guerlain also announced a partnership with the GoodPlanet foundation headed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand to heighten awareness amongst young generations of the importance of protecting bees.

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