Angry reaction from Kering CEO to greenwashing claim
Luxury group Kering has said it has no intention of ending its use of exotic leather and has insisted that the practice is in keeping with its sustainability commitments.
During the questions-and-answers session at its annual general meeting in Paris at the end of April, a representative of a prominent animal rights organisation took the microphone and accused the group of hypocrisy owing to alleged poor practice at a supplier of exotic skins in Thailand.
He claimed that in spite of previous declarations Kering has made with regard to animal wellbeing, nothing had changed.
In a forthright response, chief executive, François-Henri Pinault, said he was not prepared to listen any accusation of greenwashing. Mr Pinault insisted that, in terms of sustainable development, Kering had high standards and was determined to keep making progress in all areas, including in animal welfare.
He said the group would investigate these particular claims and that, if they were true, it would take action. He added that the group was willing to continue its dialogue with campaign groups, but he made it clear that Kering would continue to use exotic leather.
