Yves Saint Laurent Info

Rank a Brand score:
4 out of 16
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Brand Owner: Gucci Group / PPR Group
Head Office: Paris, France
Sector: Fashion, Clothing & Shoes
Categories: Designer
Free Tags: High-End, YSL, Accessories, Shoes, Bags

Yves Saint Laurent Logo

Yves Saint Lorent logo
Last Updated: 24 October 2011
Last Verified: 4 October 2011

Yves Saint Laurent Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions
1 out of 4
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1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions? Brand owner PPR has implemented the following policies: 1) Favoring river transport (barges) over road and air freight. 2) Usage of electric vehicles for city-centre deliveries. 3) The company’s cars are selected based on their economic & energy performance 4) Reduction the environmental impact of stores and infrastructures (see page 45 of CSR Report 2010). SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? PPR has issued annual reports on its emissions, which includes the following sub categories; Shipping, delivering & personal means of transport, environmental impact of stores and infrastructures, packaging & water consumption, and waste production (see page 41). Having compared the reports of 2010/7 a 14% increase in CO2 emissions was noted. SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years? The Gucci Group (Yves Saint Laurent owners) had set the following targets: 1) Reduce transport-related CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020. 2) Reduce stores’ related CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020. However, it is unclear what the overall reduction target is. SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) also have a policy to reduce/compensate carbon emissions generated from the product supply chain that is beyond own operations? The Gucci Group communicates that it aims to obtain ISO 14001 certification for Gucci Group owned tanneries by 2011. However, it is not clear whether these tanneries are owned by The Gucci Group or whether these tanneries are part of the supply chain. SOURCE
Questions about Environmental Policy
0 out of 4
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1. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 5% of its volume? PPR CSR report 2009 mentions that the Group’s continued to offer organic and fair trade products. Also a limited New Vintage collection (p.60) for YSL is mentioned. However, no breakdown of material use was found. SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 10% of its volume? See answer to 'environment' question 1. SOURCE
3. Does the brand (company) use environmentally 'preferred' raw materials for more than 25% of its volume? See answer to 'environment' question 1. SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have an environmental policy related to the ‘wet processes’ within the production cycle, like bleaching and dying of fabrics? Except for the general CSR priority to offer responsible products, a policy for clean wet processes is not found on the Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci Group or PPR Group website. SOURCE
Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade
3 out of 8
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1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? Gucci Group is supporting member of SA8000 and aims to "Extend SA8000 certification to 100% of the Gucci brand’s supply chain by 2011" ( p.5, next question 'source'). All these standards are covered by SA8000 Code of Conduct. Strange enough, Gucci Group Code of Business Practices (source) does not mention the SA8000 code. SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage? In SA8000 standard: 1. Yes, legally-binding employment relationships; 2. Yes, maximum workweek of 48 hours, overtime (max 12 hours) is generally voluntary; 3. Yes, commitment to implement payment of living wages (see page 7). SOURCE
3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining? In SA8000 Standards: This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions (see page 6/7). SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers, that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? No, this list is not published on YSL, Gucci Group nor PPR website. SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions? Gucci Group is supporting member to the SA8000 certification for its brands (see p.5). However, it is not clear what percentage of factories/ annual volume is certified already or how Gucci defines its supply chain. SOURCE
6. Do independent civil society organizations like NGO's and labour unions have a decisive voice in this collective initiative or in these certification schemes? SA8000 is acknowledged as a ‘Multi Stakeholder Initiative’ (MSI), but its not clear what percentage of factories/annual volume are certified. SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy? PPR reports for 2009: "PPR carried out 3,493 audits". Further, "Gucci obtained SA8000 certification for its leather goods activities, jewellery supply chains, the brand’s shoe production facilities and the ready-to-wear and silk businesses." Description is very minimal, e.g. there is no clear overview of the supply chain. SOURCE
8. Has the brand's labour conditions policy resulted in a 'compliance level' of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a 'monitored level' of at least 80%? See remark at former question. SA8000 seems substantially covered for Gucci, though the percentage on total volume is not clear and the report does not give any details on the supply chain. SOURCE