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Gucci and Bottega Veneta fight to defy the industry’s rollback on ESG

Brands are failing to reach sustainability targets while consumer-facing circularity schemes are prioritised, according to the Vogue Business Index.
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Key takeaways:

  • Time-sensitive targets being missed. Brands are becoming less ambitious in their sustainability policies, as they fail to reach prior targets in the original time frame. Most notable in these failings are net-zero commitments, where many brands are falling back onto — or failing to reach — the bare-minimum commitments set by the Paris Agreement for 2050.
  • Consumer-led circularity takes priority. Brands have historically focused on consumer-facing circularity initiatives, boosting resale and repair schemes in particular. While some brands have adopted novel packaging solutions, plastic commitments have fallen by the wayside and elimination of B2C plastics is still widely prioritised ahead of plastic waste throughout the supply chain.
  • Supply chain concerns heighten. Supply chain concerns within the past year from some of luxury’s biggest brands have highlighted the need for drastic improvements across the industry. Transparency and fair wages should be a focus for brands. Despite this, some brands are beginning to make strides.

Luxury begins to backtrack on commitments

ESG progress saw very little movement at the top in the first half of 2024, with Gucci remaining the top brand for its policies for the second year in a row. Competition remained tight with Kering stablemate Bottega Veneta.