Kering, leader in green luxury

«A luxury player such as Kering must offer products that are both remarkable in their creativity and irreproachable in their production. That is why we must continue to develop our innovations and processes and we will do so on an ever-increasing scale», Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer of the French giant, told MFF. This vision is already a reality for the group helmed by François-Henri Pinault, which continues to achieve milestones in terms of sustainability.

Just one year after the inauguration of its innovative global logistics hub in Trecate, in the province of Novara, Kering has been awarded the prestigious Leed platinum certifications for its two buildings, with the facility establishing itself as the largest in the world in its building category to achieve this recognition. With the application of the version 4 of the Leed protocol for warehouses during the hub's design and construction process, the global commitment in terms of sustainability of the parent company of fashion labels such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega veneta, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen continues. As the manager pointed out, sustainability «is no longer a matter of following a trend. It is a matter of survival. Today there is awareness, but it is not enough. Every corporate organization needs to act more and faster».

The Trecate-based hub, owned by international real estate investor DWS Group, covers more than 162,000 square meters, an area roughly corresponding to 20 rugby fields next to each other. By area, the two buildings are the largest ones awarded Leed certifications in Italy. Leed is a voluntary certification program that can be applied to any type of building, whether commercial or residential, taking into consideration its entire life cycle, from its design to its construction. The purpose of these certifications is to survey the sustainability parameters of buildings by measuring their performance, particularly in relation to energy and water savings, reduction of Co2 emissions and improvement of the environmental quality in terms of interiors, materials and resources used. 

«Sustainability has been at the heart of Kering's strategy and roadmap for years. Obtaining this prestigious Leed certification is further evidence of how we act to adopt the best green practices at every stage of our processes, from the design of a product to its delivery», Marie-Claire Daveu stated at the presentation of a symbolic commemorative plaque in the presence of Alexia Giugni, Country Head at DWS Italy, and Kay Killmann, Managing Director of GBCI Europe, the company that leads the implementation of the Leed green building program. «I am proud of this recognition and thank everyone who has worked so hard to make our Trecate hub an example of highly sustainable building in Italy».

In fact, the logistics hub has the second largest photovoltaic roof in Europe, with a capacity of 12.7 MWp, which far exceeds the energy needs of the entire site. In addition to the photovoltaic roof, the building also achieved the highest levels of the Leed certification thanks to a sophisticated water consumption reduction system, which allows water use to be limited by 50%. «These Leed platinum certifications confirm our ESG-related focus and investment strategy toward high-end assets with environmental and sustainable characteristics», Benita Schneider, Head of Real Estate Asset Management Europe at DWS, also commented. «Our Italian logistics portfolio is of strategic importance, and we are proud of these two new certifications, given our continued focus on Esg criteria».

The hub meets demand from regional warehouses, direct stores, wholesale distribution and e-commerce worldwide, significantly improving the group's shipping and warehousing capabilities. It will also enable lead times to be reduced by 50%, increasing the speed of deliveries and further strengthening collaboration with the group's brands. The plant is managed by GXO Logistics, Kering's longtime logistics partner, which employs the on-site workforce dedicated to warehouse operations. Finally, the site in the Vercelli area is surrounded by 10 hectares of outdoor green spaces, and a plan is underway to promote their biodiversity, along with carbon absorption through solutions based on the nature and the development of native arboreal vegetation.

The development of sports and recreational facilities for employees, which currently number more than 750 but are expected to grow to 1,000 by the end of the year, will also be started soon. In this perspective, Kay Killmann anticipated: «The additional Leed platinum certification for the three office buildings is currently under review and should be completed by the end of this year. The Well certification, a protocol focused on improving employee comfort and working conditions, will also be achieved». (all rights reserved)