In a world where sustainability practices are increasingly becoming a necessity rather than a choice, reporting on sustainability has become an industry-wide norm, used as a tool for transparency and accountability. While major corporations and global fashion brands have largely adopted the concept, the release is even less common among independent luxury brands – a situation that Italian luxury fashion brand Valentino is aiming to change.
The company published its first sustainability report for 2022 on Tuesday. In doing so, the Italian label underlines its “commitment to responsible and ethical treatment of people and the environment”. Under the motto of the overarching sustainability strategy “Let the Beauty Prosper”, the document provides an overview of specific goals, achievements and objectives that correspond to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard.
“As a couture house, it is important for us to evolve sustainably while maintaining repeatable, ethical and responsible growth,” said Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli and CEO Jacopo Venturini in a joint statement. “At Valentino, we understand the urgency of taking action on sustainability and we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive of our environment and its community.”
Striving for traceable raw materials and renewable energy
“We have the duty and the opportunity to continue to raise the bar through constant improvement. That’s why we’re proud to present our company’s first-ever sustainability report. We want to measure our performance with an evidence-based and scientific approach and set ourselves ambitious goals. Our aim is to lead with purpose and to achieve a positive impact both within the company and with and for our community and all people,” the report says.
The publication follows three key principles that Valentino says it will monitor over time to “ensure a sustainable path.” While the “Product” section revolves around the commitment to maintaining “couture excellence and promoting ethical values” in the supply chain, “People” provides an overview of the group’s employees and their fundraising initiatives to support communities. Additionally, “Planet” provides insight into the company’s carbon footprint and highlights its various circular projects.
In addition to the various details and data included in the report, Valentino also revealed the key objectives of its operational plan. These include, among other things, ensuring the traceability of 100 percent of the most important raw materials by 2030, training 80 percent of employees on the sustainability strategy by 2026 and integrating 90 percent renewable energies throughout the group by 2030.
This translated article previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk