Gucci launches Circular Hub to drive eco practices, will roll out to more Kering labels

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Feb 21, 2023

Gucci has announced the launch of “the first hub for circular luxury in Italy”. Called the Circular Hub, it aims to “accelerate the circular transformation of the Italian fashion industry's production model, through the redefinition of the entire value chain”.

It will be an “open innovation platform for the design and manufacturing of circular products and the scouting of new solutions”, with the approach starting from raw materials and design, through to production optimisation and logistics.

Sited in Tuscany, it “will see the involvement of [owner] Kering’s facilities” (it will draw on the expertise of the Kering Material Innovation Lab in Milan, for instance) and “will support the creation of circular luxury products of the future”.

The brand defines these as products that make maximum use of recycled materials, as well as creating products that are durable, repairable and recyclable once their useful life is over.

As well as kering’s involvement, Gucci’s Italy-based raw material suppliers, and finished products manufacturers (over 4,000 businesses in total) will be involved.

And the plan is to extend the activities to Kering’s other labels in the future.

Overall, the hub will improve both Kering’s and Gucci’s environmental performance, promoting the use of fewer natural resources, minimising waste and pollution, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while creating employment opportunities. The company estimates that in relation to Gucci’s leather goods ecosystem, it will be possible to reduce up to 60% of the GHG emissions currently generated in managing production waste. 

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, said: “The fashion industry needs to accelerate and launch serious actions to catalyse deep change, rethinking the way we produce and use resources as well. Our Circular Hub represents a milestone that goes in this direction.” 

And Antonella Centra, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Gucci, while highlighting the huge challenges involved, also spoke of opportunities: “We will have the responsibility and above all the framework in place to create a pathway for the luxury industry of the future. By sharing the same objectives and pooling resources, know-how and synergies, the hub will enable the entire luxury supply chain and especially the small and medium-sized enterprises — the beating heart of our country’s industry — to play an active role, with the innovative spirit that makes Italian know-how unique in the world.”