Louis Vuitton is owned by LVMH.
Our “Planet” rating evaluates brands based on the environmental policies in their supply chains, from carbon emissions and wastewater to business models and product circularity. Here we rate Louis Vuitton “It's a Start”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
- It uses few lower-impact materials.
- It’s eliminated some hazardous chemicals but has not made a commitment to eliminate all hazardous chemicals in manufacturing.
- To minimise waste, it recycles some of its textile offcuts.
- It’s set a science based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both its direct operations and supply chain but there’s no evidence it is on track.
Workers’ rights are central to our “People” rating, which assess brands’ policies and practices on everything from child labour to living wages and gender equality. Here we rate Louis Vuitton “Not Good Enough”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
- None of its supply chain is certified by crucial labour standards that help ensure worker health and safety, living wages, and other rights.
- It received a score of 21-30% in the 2022 Fashion Transparency Index.
- It has a basic policy to support diversity and inclusion in its direct operations and supply chain.
- There’s no evidence it ensures workers are paid living wages in its supply chain.
- During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it did not disclose adequate policies or safeguards to protect workers in its supply chain from the virus.
- It’s taken insufficient steps to remediate its links to cotton sourced from Xinjiang, a region in China at risk of Uyghur forced labour.
Brands’ animal welfare policies and, where applicable, how well they trace their animal-derived products are the focus of our “Animals” rating. Here we rate Louis Vuitton “Very Poor”. These are a few factors influencing its score:
- It has a formal policy aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare but no clear implementation mechanisms in place.
- It appears to use leather, fur, exotic animal skin, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk.
- Responsible Wool Standard certifies some of the wool it sources.
- Responsible Down Standard certifies some of the down it uses.
- It doesn’t appear to use angora.
- It traces some animal-derived materials to the first production stage.
Based on all publicly available information we’ve reviewed, we rate Louis Vuitton “Not Good Enough” overall.
As an enthusiast well-versed in sustainability, corporate responsibility, and fashion industry practices, I'm adept at dissecting and analyzing various brand evaluations through comprehensive metrics like environmental impact, labor practices, and animal welfare standards. My expertise is grounded in extensive research and ongoing engagement with industry reports, corporate disclosures, and sustainability initiatives.
Regarding the evaluation of Louis Vuitton by the "Planet," "People," and "Animals" rating criteria, the assessment offers a holistic view of the brand's performance across diverse sustainability domains. Let's delve into the concepts encapsulated within this assessment:
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Environmental Impact ("Planet" Rating):
- Carbon Emissions & Wastewater: Evaluation of the brand's carbon emissions, wastewater management, and overall environmental impact.
- Circularity & Lower-Impact Materials: Emphasis on the use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials, as well as efforts to promote product circularity.
- Chemical Usage & Hazard Elimination: Elimination of hazardous chemicals from manufacturing processes, with a focus on commitment and action towards a safer production environment.
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets: Setting science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within direct operations and supply chains, alongside progress tracking.
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Labor Practices ("People" Rating):
- Supply Chain Labor Standards: Assessment of adherence to crucial labor standards ensuring worker health, safety, living wages, and rights within the supply chain.
- Fashion Transparency & Diversity Policies: Transparency index scores, diversity, and inclusion policies within both direct operations and the supply chain.
- Worker Remuneration & COVID-19 Safeguards: Ensuring fair wages, especially living wages, and implementing adequate policies to safeguard workers during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Animal Welfare ("Animals" Rating):
- Animal Welfare Policies: Evaluation of brand policies aligned with the Five Freedoms of animal welfare and their implementation mechanisms.
- Material Sourcing (Leather, Fur, Exotic Skins, etc.): Assessment of materials used, such as leather, fur, exotic animal skins, shearling, exotic animal hair, and silk, and the brand's accountability in tracing these materials.
- Certifications & Tracing: Recognition of certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard and Responsible Down Standard and the tracing of animal-derived materials to their origins.
The comprehensive assessment of Louis Vuitton's sustainability practices reveals strengths and areas requiring improvement across environmental stewardship, labor ethics, and animal welfare. The overall rating of "Not Good Enough" underscores the brand's need for substantial advancements in these critical sustainability domains to align with contemporary ethical and environmental standards.
