LVMH and UNESCO: a joint effort for biodiversity

On 14 December 2023, at UNESCO Headquarters, the LIFE 360 Summit, organised by LVMH, presented the objectives and results of its environmental strategy. In the presence of Christophe Béchu (French Minister for Ecological Transition), Virginijus Sinkevičius (European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries), Bernard Arnault (Chairman and CEO of LVMH), and Antoine Arnault (LVMH Image & Environment), the focus was on the results of the programmes carried out to promote biodiversity, for example with UNESCO in the Amazon, and on the main axes of the Group's strategy for the environment, in partnership with its suppliers.

UNESCO was the venue for the announcement of a strategic partnership between LVMH and the Brazilian NGO FAS (fight against deforestation). The aim of this collaboration is to contribute to the regeneration of ecosystems, particularly in UNESCO biosphere reserves.

Biodiversity protection is at the heart of all the LVMH Group's activities, with the objective of regenerating 5 million hectares of wild habitats worldwide and limiting the impact of its activities on the environment.

This renewed commitment to biodiversity preservation reflects the importance of international cooperation in this field.

"A first objective guiding our action is to protect and restore biodiversity, but always involving local and indigenous communities. This is the essence of the work we are doing with LVMH in the Amazon, in Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. In particular, we are working with cocoa and coffee producers to promote more sustainable agriculture," said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, in her opening message.

"Amazonium" is an immersive art installation that highlights the importance of protecting natural areas.

Similarly, LVMH has announced its intention to renew and extend its partnership with UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, signed in June 2019. This partnership will include a section dedicated to collecting data on the effectiveness of programmes to promote biodiversity. The aim is to develop an impact measurement methodology that can be transferred to all the Group's Houses, thereby strengthening the dialogue between scientific knowledge and local knowledge.

The LIFE 360 Summit at UNESCO was a forum for debate and sharing on environmental issues, with the active participation of personalities from the institutional, artistic and sporting worlds. It saw fruitful exchanges, involving key players such as Natalie Portman, Christophe Béchu, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Georgina Grenon, and Léon Marchand, illustrating the Group's willingness to engage with a variety of stakeholders, including representatives from the public sector and NGOs.

In addition to introductions by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, Antoine Arnault, LVMH Image & Environment, and Hélène Valade, LVMH Environment Development Director, several Chairmen and CEOs of the Group's Houses participated in the opening plenary session to share their best practices and present their ongoing quest to exceed environmental expectations.

LVMH's activities and commitments in UNESCO biosphere reserves will be shared on the UNESCO Biodiversity Portal. This transparency demonstrates the Group's commitment to traceability and communication of its actions in favour of biodiversity.

Beyond the concrete results presented at the summit, UNESCO's involvement has played a key role in highlighting LVMH's efforts in favour of biodiversity and the preservation of ecosystems, emphasising the need for international cooperation to address global environmental challenges.