Louis Vuitton 2008 Annual Report Download - page 68

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regulations in advance. As a result, for example,
Group Houses do not develop products containing
triclosan, phthalates or preservatives that generate
formaldehyde. In addition, following the example
of Parfums Christian Dior which publicly announ-
ced its decision in 1989, the various Perfume and
Cosmetics brands of LVMH no longer conduct
animal testing to evaluate the safety of the cosme-
tics and are together investing heavily in the search
for alternative tests, particularly in the area of aller-
gies, along with basic research partners, and in the
area of systemic toxicity within Colipa, the Euro-
pean federation of cosmetics manufacturers.
Packaging, leather goods, cosmetics
eco-design is gaining ground
Taking the environment into consideration in
designing our products is gaining ground. After
“Ecopublicité” in 2007 and the Moët & Chandon
eco-design tool, other systems have been established
to measure the environmental impact of the deci-
sions made. Under the leadership of Parfums Chris-
tian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Kenzo and Parfums
Givenchy have together developed a tool for assessing
the environmental performance of the packaging.
Beginning with development, the following elements
are taken into account: separability of materials,
volume, weight, use of refills, and the use of more
environmentally friendly materials. While it conti-
nues to maintain the excellent quality of its products,
Loewe has significantly increased the rate of use of
the raw material like leather for the manufacture of
its bags; this rate is now close to 70% while it could
be 50% in some cases. Louis Vuitton continues its
program to replace solvent-based products with water-
based products, as in patent leather or the glues used
in leather goods. Energy audits and a life cycle analy-
sis of the store concept have also
been completed. They identified
the next steps for improvements
in lighting, air conditioning, or
the design of furnishings. The "sac
de plage extraordinaire" from the
Louis Vuitton 2008 men's spring-
summer collection was designed
from recycled horsehair and fish
scales, two materials presented in
the LVMH materials specifica-
tions. These specifications, which
are sent every year to all the Houses, present envi-
ronmental quality materials and the principle for
an eco-design approach. A 5th edition is currently
in preparation. In another area, Grande Epicerie
has developed a partnership with the Bilum
company, which manufactures bags by recycling
advertising banners. The company sells unique
carrier bags fabricated with its own advertising
banners, recycling that benefits everyone. Finally,
in 2008, Sephora launched its Ecocert certified
bioline, Green Connection. It has been highly
successful and will be expanded.
All these examples show the commitment of the
Group and its Houses to combating climate
change and greenhouse gases. This commitment
has also earned LVMH first place in the
French rankings for the Carbon
Disclosure Project (CDP), which
evaluates the major groups based
on their programs to fight climate
change and reduce greenhouse gases.
LVMH was also named in the 2008
Sustainability Yearbook by the SAM
ratings agency.
Actions expanded
to society in general
As part of its guiding principle of sharing with
the greatest number of people, LVMH continues
to conduct programs with the community and
the academic world. For example, with Orée, a
French association of businesses and local autho-
rities specializing in the environment, the Group
has contributed to the completion of the guide
entitled "Integrating Biodiversity in Business Stra-
tegies." In a dedicated chapter, LVMH presents its
approach, its implications and the feedback it
has received. The Group continues to work with
the Responsible Jewellery Council, an interna-
tional association that promotes responsible prac-
tices in the entire jewelry segment, from the
extraction of gold and diamonds right through to
the stores. Louis Vuitton has expanded its
support for Al Gore's Climate Project through
a new institutional advertising campaign. Its Japa-
nese division organized a charity gala to benefit
Take Action! 2008, an association founded by
soccer player Hidetoshi Nakata to increase envi-
ronmental awareness and also to fight malaria.
Moët & Chandon has made a commitment to
a project with the Interprofessional Committee
on Champagne and the Center for Glucide Recy-
cling that works to expand the scope of applica-
tion of pyrogasification to the by-products from
the Champagne segment. This new technology
recovers the energy produced during the elimi-
nation of by-products (vine shoots, vine stocks
and old stems and grape pomace) and provides
natural enrichment.
At the same time, the Group and its Houses once
again worked in the educational environment.
This was particularly true for Moët & Chandon,
which organized and directed a series of confe-
rences on sustainable development at the Reims
Ecole de Commerce and at the Eco-Management
unit of the Reims Economics Department. Youth
awareness programs are also designed. As an
example, Bodegas Chandon completed a tree
planting operation "Educar Forestando" with
children from local Chilean schools as part of a
special social responsibility program.
In external communications, Hennessy has prepa-
red a PR brochure which emphasizes the envi-
ronment and food safety. Other companies, like
Veuve Clicquot and Louis Vuitton, organized
visits to their sites to present the best environ-
mental practices. Finally, to facilitate exchanges
in ethno-botanical areas, LVMH Research repea-
ted the Africa Beauty Forum which it had orga-
nized in 2004. Held in Burkina Faso with other
West African countries, this second edition
shared ideas on research and recycling, identi-
fied complementary areas and established nurse-
ries of different tree oils.
Moët & Chandon
—a partner
of associations
Moët & Chandon organized and
directed conferences on
sustainable development during the
technical days of the Union des
Oenologues of France (Winemakers
Union). A partnership was also
established with Club Business 51
to complete a dedicated car-
pooling site in the department of
Marne. The site was presented to
all Moët & Chandon employees.
More information, including the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative and the requirements resulting from the New Economic
Regulations, as well as indicators on environmental impacts, is provided in the LVMH registration document and in the LVMH
environmental report available on the Group's website. Any individual or group with questions for the Group may do so and is
guaranteed to receive a reply by writing to: [email protected]
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