LVMH Signs Agreement with UAE Mall Developers, Reveals Amazon Sustainability Initiative at COP28

LVMH has announced a new Amazon sustainability initiative aimed at supporting biodiversity initiatives in Brazil, in addition to lending support for a 'Sustainable Market' pavilion by fashion house Stella McCartney, overseen by the same conglomerate.
 
Antoine Arnault, LVMH's director of image and environment, entered into an agreement with four leading real estate developers in the UAE: Chalhoub Group, Emaar Malls, Majid Al Futtaim and Aldar Properties. The aim of the accord is to diminish the environmental footprint of shopping centers, particularly in a region where much of the social and commercial activity occurs in malls.

The recent announcement marks another step in LVMH's mission to polish the corporate image rather than focusing on the individual reputations of its many luxury brands, which include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Dom Perignon, Fendi, Sephora and Hennessy.
 
This is part of the group’s environmental initiative, Life 360, that includes battles against climate change, safeguarding biodiversity, promoting creative circularity, and maintaining traceability.
 
“In line with LVMH’s ambitious Life 360 sustainability goals, the Life in Stores initiative is key to enhancing the environmental efficiency of our stores and diminishing their impact. We strive to provide our customers with a unique experience and adhere to the highest standards, from our store design and operation, to our focus on our customers and society. These two new agreements with prominent local partners in the UAE and Florida underline our goal to align our commitment to excellent distribution with our climate objectives, involving a continuous effort to advance the environmental performance of our 5,600+ stores globally,” said Arnault, who signed the mall accord.
 
LVMH's efforts also extend to Florida, where the company is involved with the Miami Design District (MDD), an area known for its innovative fashion, design, art, architecture and dining scenes. The cooperation between LVMH and MDD will include the 15 luxury LVMH brands that lease commercial properties in the Miami Design District, encompassing Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Berluti, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari and Hublot.
 
“We are pleased to expand our collaboration with the Miami Design District on the journey towards greater sustainability, and we invite others within the industry to join us,” declared Antoine Arnault, the eldest son of LVMH controlling shareholder Bernard Arnault.
 
Inspired by Stella McCartney’s recent sustainability street market in Paris, a new pavilion was unveiled in Dubai which featured regenerative cotton from Söktas and BioFluff, a 100% plant-based animal fur substitute. McCartney and LVMH's Veuve Clicquot brand also introduced a Frayme bag, constructed from fabric made from recycled winery waste.

In the Amazon, LVMH is investing €1 million in its partnership with For Amazon Sustainability (FAS) to balance environmental protection with sustainable development that respects local cultural contexts, and combats deforestation.
 
LVMH’s overall objective is to regenerate 5 million hectares of wildlife habitat worldwide, and to limit the environmental impact of its activities, the group said in a release.
 
The Paris-based, family-controlled luxe empire also took pains to announce the first results of its partnership with Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA), formalized in November 2022 at COP 27 in Egypt. As a result, some 500 farmers were identified and trained around Lake Chad; 12 hectares were reserved to act as a laboratory and training center; and a 0.5-hectare tree nursery launched to supply the plants that farmers need.
 
The group said it was “delighted” that Berluti -- where Antoine has been CEO for a decade – has become the first luxury Maison worldwide to reach Full Project certification from the Forest Stewardship Council in its Berluti store at the Mall of Emirates, owned by Majid al-Futtaim Properties, a signatory of the Mall accord.
 
“We are delighted with the FSC certification of the first Maison Berluti store. Thanks to its commitment, the LVMH Group is doing its bit to help conserve forests, through an innovative, brand-new project in the luxury sector. The FSC project certification also demonstrates the commitment of all stakeholders involved, from architects to artisans. Ensuring the wood materials used in construction or development projects are responsibly sourced is essential to supporting the eco-responsible approach of managers of certified forests. At a time when forests are facing so many crises (climate change, biodiversity loss), they can also provide solutions,” said Aurélien Sautière, Executive Director, FSC France.
 
On Monday, editors and media received save the date emails to a Life 360 Summit in UNESCO in Paris, where the group will announce the results of three years of work on the environment.