Kering is ending a decade-long chapter in its sustainability journey.
On Thursday, ten years after announcing the company’s “Crafting Tomorrow’s Luxury” strategy, Kering published its wrap-up 2016-2025 Impact Report. The report names the measurable progress and projects the global, family-led luxury group pursued during this period under three pillars: care, collaborate and create.
Under the care pillar, the Gucci and Balenciaga owner banned fur in 2021 and created the first-ever animal welfare standard for luxury and fashion, attained 97 percent traceability and 86 percent alignment with Kering Standards for key raw materials, and achieved 34 percent absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, combining Scopes 1, 2 and 3 of GHG Protocol in 2025 compared with a 2022 baseline.
The company also formed a Regenerative Fund for Nature, jointly initiated “Climate Fund for Nature” with over 200 million euros under management, became the first company globally to adopt land and freshwater science-based targets for nature, verified by Science Based Targets Network, and committed to net water-positive impact across value chain by 2050
Under the collaborate pillar, Kering established “The Fashion Pact” to drive collective action with approximately 150 fashion and textile companies representing a third of the fashion industry and co-founded the “Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030” with Cartier to scale sustainable solutions for the watch and jewelry sectors.
Under the create pillar, Kering formed dedicated innovation labs for materials, watches and jewelry, and partnered with over 225 startups spanning alternative materials, efficient manufacturing, emerging technologies and circular economy solutions.
“From the outset, Kering’s approach to sustainability has been as a pioneer, pushing the boundaries of conventional commitments and practices to accelerate our ambitions,” said Luca de Meo, Kering CEO. “We are proud of the tangible progress achieved across our Group over the past ten years, as well as the broader impact we have created within luxury and the fashion industry through the coalitions we established. We remain fully dedicated to building on this momentum in the years ahead, guided by a clear set of priorities. Sustainability is not only a responsibility but fundamental to the business itself, creating long-term value for all stakeholders.”
The report also highlights brand-specific sustainability achievements like Balenciaga’s use of mushroom -derived Ephea material in 2022, Gucci’s efforts to make leftover materials available to non-profits and McQueen’s integration of marine leather for footwear.
Kering’s sustainability story is far from finshed. In April the company outlined three sustainability priorities for the next decade. This includes fair production and precision manufacturing to maximize resource efficiency; investing in people and craftsmanship throughout its value chain; and diversifying the group’s materials portfolio with a focus on accelerating innovation and expanding circular services from repair to resale.
To measure progress against these priorities, Kering defined key indicators: full material traceability and alignment with Kering Standards and targeted shift in its material mix, with 20 percent regenerative materials in ready-to-wear and 40 percent alternative materials by 2035.
The company aims for a 30 percent reduction in leather intensity by 2028 versus 2025, and a positive nature impact in the priority water basins of the group’s supply chain, aligned with its SBTN targets.
Additionally, Kering is planning a “strong innovation agenda” with 20 percent of revenue generated from innovation by 2035. This will be split evenly between material and process innovation, and services and new business models.
“Together with our colleagues across Kering and within our Houses, and with our global partners, we have been tackling challenges and introducing new solutions with determination, creativity, and urgency,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer. “As we enter the next chapter of our sustainability journey, we will act even more decisively to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. Our ambition and resolve are stronger than ever.”
