France's LVMH partners with Vallée de la Millière association

Located one hour from Paris on the edge of the Rambouillet forest, this 30-hectare site includes a reserve, an educational garden called “Jardin des Partages” built on the principles of agroforestry and permaculture, and several buildings designed to welcome the public.

This site is scheduled to open in 2024. As part of this partnership, the LVMH Group employees and stakeholders will be able to use this facility located in nature throughout the year, for training and awareness-raising activities. The aim is to have trained all group employees in environmental fundamentals by 2026, and to make each of them a player in change. The rest of the time, La Millière will be open to the general public, particularly schoolchildren, and scientists.

Through this partnership, LVMH intends to contribute to educating as many people as possible about the challenges of biodiversity. The group has committed to help renovate the site for the next five years, explore regenerative agriculture and train as many people as possible to ensure they are aware of ecological issues and the challenges around protecting biodiversity.

“We are very happy to support the Vallée de la Millière association. This reserve is an exciting laboratory for regenerative farming techniques and environmentally friendly practices that we are committed to developing in order to enable sustainable luxury. At LVMH, we are convinced that we can shift the lines from within – a conviction we share with Yann Arthus-Bertrand – by making our employees true stakeholders in our environmental policy. This is why we have made it a priority to integrate environmental issues into all the group’s businesses. To do this, training is key: it gives meaning and enables change. By 2026, we aim to have trained 100 per cent of our employees in environmental fundamentals, an objective that will now be included in our LIFE 360 roadmap.” Hélène Valade, director of environmental development for the LVMH Group.

“The Vallée de la Millière association was created to protect and conserve, at all costs, a 30-hectare estate in the heart of the Yvelines department on the outskirts of the Greater Paris region, a rare wetland area with a wealth of biodiversity. The objective is to be able to re-learn the living world around us.  Without a long-term sponsor, we would not have been able to carry out this unprecedented pilot rewilding project, which could serve as an example and encourage others throughout France. Thanks to LVMH, the association will be able to welcome schools free of charge from 2024 to educate the youngest about the protection and beauty of wildlife, as well as scientists and NGOs to observe, exchange and analyze the evolution of the site. This support will also allow the association to acquire all the necessary equipment and to surround itself with a solid team to carry out its objectives of raising awareness and educating the general public as well as the daily management of the biodiversity reserve,” said Yann Arthus-Bertrand, photographer, filmmaker, and ecologist. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)