Luxury goods group Kering has announced a three-year collaboration to research the impact of climate and nature-related transition strategies adopted by corporations in the Asia-Pacific region, alongside the National University of Singapore Business School’s Center of Governance and Sustainability (CGS).
As part of the collaboration, CGS will conduct three studies focusing on nature-related issues and climate transition. This research will cover companies in 14 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, examining current nature and climate practices, strategies, reporting, and industry trends.
The findings will be presented to business leaders, investors, regulators, and leaders in the public and non-profit sectors.
Kering, which manages the development of brands such as Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and others, announced the collaboration at the the ‘Nature in the City’ forum early this month, organised by the French National Museum of Natural History and the Embassy of France in Singapore.
‘Power of collective action’
“At Kering, we believe in the power of collective action as seen through our robust network of partners in several regions around the world,” commented Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer at Kering, who added that the partnership combines “academic rigour, research expertise, and real-world experience”, all key levers in driving sustainable impact.
“The sustainability challenges we face today are complex, and by partnering with an outstanding university renowned for its expertise in sustainability topics, we are exemplifying the group’s commitment to collaborate with partners on the Asia-Pacific region’s sustainability journey,” she added.
According to Kering, supporting such academic research is in line with its commitment to education, collaboration and innovation in driving climate action.
‘Nature-related practices’
Elsewhere, Professor Lawrence Loh, director of the centre for governance and sustainability at NUS Business School, commented, “Nature underpins all economic activities and human well-being. Therefore, the disclosure of nature-related practices and strategies is crucial to provide transparency and accountability for a company’s environmental impact and sustainability practices.
“Through the partnership with Kering, we are poised to drive meaningful change by developing a baseline for measuring biodiversity tracking and examining climate transition strategies across diverse industries. This is a significant step in encouraging the integration of nature-centric approaches into corporate strategies, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future for all.”
Kering, which reported revenue of €19.6 billion in 2023, had 49,000 employees around the world as of last year.
