Kering, a platinum partner of the ChangeNOW Summit, reaffirmed its dedication to sustainability by participating in the world’s largest event for planet-positive solutions for the sixth consecutive year. From April 24th to April 26th in Paris, ChangeNOW brought together startups, thought leaders, investors, and businesses to address the most pressing environmental and social challenges of our time.
On April 24, Rachel Kolbe Semhoun, Head of Sustainable Sourcing and Nature Initiatives at Kering, took the stage to explore the theme "Nature as an Economic Choice."
The panel addressed the urgent need to transform ecosystems from intangible treasures into measurable assets. Using water as a case study, they discussed how monetizing ecosystem services can unlock funding for biodiversity conservation, foster ecosystem restoration, and make visible the benefits of nature — from clean water and air to climate regulation and flood protection. Rachel acknowledges that “There are clearly calculable ecosystem services that are incredibly valuable to many. Sometimes these services occur naturally, and sometimes they result from land stewardship by humans—local communities, farmers, and others. It's essential to recognize the value of these systems and services, and to understand the real asset that lies in preserving them.”
On the same day, Géraldine Vallejo, Kering’s Sustainability Programme Director, joined fashion sustainability experts at the exclusive Futur.io CSO Reception. In an intimate, invite-only setting, the leaders shared insights on how the fashion sector can drive positive change. They highlighted real-world examples of sustainable innovation, illustrating the critical role of purposeful leadership in reshaping industries for a more sustainable future.
"Being a leader and being influential is not just about driving change within your own company. It involves working with others, open-sourcing, sharing innovations to scale them up, and engaging in collaborative and precompetitive initiatives." Highlighted Geraldine during her talk.
The following morning, on April 25th, Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, participated in the high-profile panel, "Getting Your Board on Board," alongside leaders sitting across several boards of listed companies. The discussion emphasized the need for boards to proactively integrate ESG principles into corporate governance, highlighting how sustainability leadership at the board level is essential for long-term business success and societal impact.
"Today’s rapidly evolving world demands that boards not only take a step back but boldly push boundaries and embrace disruption for lasting impact. It is the chairperson’s duty to actively foster a culture where directors are empowered to challenge decisions fearlessly and where a resilient, forward-thinking collective mindset is non-negotiable." Said Marie-Claire
At its dedicated booth, Kering also shined a spotlight on the winners of the Kering Generation Award from Japan and Saudi Arabia, offering them a global platform to share their pioneering solutions. ChangeNOW attendees discovered six promising ventures:
A trailblazing collaboration between IFM and Kering, the IFM-Kering Sustainability Chair has been driving change within the industry for 5 years through education, research, and action.
Each year, students from the Fashion Sustainability Certificate develop impactful, purpose-driven projects. For the 2025 edition of the summit, five projects were presented to the public:
Through its long-lasting partnership with ChangeNOW, Kering continues to set the standard for sustainability leadership in luxury and beyond, connecting innovation, nature, and purposeful business transformation.
About ChangeNOW
ChangeNOW was launched in 2017 with the goals of building bridges between entrepreneurs, CEOs and political leaders to accelerate change. Kering has been a proud partner of this summit of solutions for the planet since its beginnings.
About Kering
Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across ready-to-wear and couture, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear, and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering’s Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability, and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2024, Kering employed 47,000 people and generated revenue of €17.2 billion.
About Kering Generation Award
Designed as one of the key initiatives for innovation under Kering’s 2025 Sustainability Strategy, the Kering Generation Award was launched in China in 2018 and has since been aiming to drive industry-wide transformation by recognizing and supporting startups that bring about positive environmental and social impact while addressing challenges in alternative raw materials, green supply chain, retail & use and the circular economy. The program has already been held four times in China – last year, the Group debuted its Saudi and Japanese editions. Additionally, a "Kering Generation Award X Jewelry" was launched with the cooperation of the Polytechnic University of Milan, expanding Kering's support program to the jewelry sector.