Putting it into practice

Sustainability

Putting it into practice

While regenerative practices need to be customized to meet the needs of a specific place and type of agriculture, it is equally true that certain practices feature in most regenerative systems. These common practices include: rotating crops, planting cover crops and retaining crop residues, carrying out little or no tillage, eliminating synthetic chemicals, using natural sources of fertilizer, and introducing highly-managed grazing and/or integrated crop/grazing systems. Regenerative agriculture aims to provide the desired outcomes not only in terms of yield and quality of materials, but also in terms of soil and ecosystem health.

Projects supported by the Regenerative Fund for Nature will incorporate practices that seek to deliver measurable outcomes on farms. Additionally, based on Kering’s pioneering approach to biodiversity for animal welfare, projects will also incorporate ‘wildlife friendly’ practices where appropriate and will focus on ensuring high standards of animal welfare.

Whilst not comprehensive, the following list illustrates the types of farming practices that support regenerative production for priority materials.

Cotton

Example practices:

•   Improve soil health by using cover crops, low to no-till farming, composting, crop rotation and/or intercropping, leading to observable gains in soil carbon, water retention capacity and soil organic matter.
•   Ensure cotton is certified organic, prohibiting the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and GMO seeds
•   Implement sustainable innovative pricing mechanisms to support farmer livelihoods, such as price premiums

Leather, wool, cashmere

Example practices:

• Improve soil health and above ground/below ground biomass through rotational grazing, as outlined in a grazing or pasture management plan. Ensure ground cover (avoid bare earth), leading to improved water retention in the soil, carbon sequestration and reduced run-off.

• Support on- and off-farm biodiversity through practices such as set-asides, hedgerows and wildlife corridors.

• Implement innovative pricing mechanisms that are sustainable and support farmer livelihoods, such as price premiums.

• Fully implement the ‘Five Freedoms’ of animal welfare, as endorsed by the World Organization for Animal Health, the European Union and national associations for preventing animal cruelty around the world.

N4_Putting-it-into-practice_cashmere_750x300_Desktop.jpg

Biodiversity strategy

Kering has launched a number of initiatives to ensure the protection and sustainability of natural resources. The Group’s overall goal is to preserve such resources, which play a pivotal role in its activities. In 2020, the Group is taking a step further by unveiling its Biodiversity strategy. Our approach is organized into four stages: avoid, reduce, restore & regenerate, and transform.