Happi Staff10.21.19
Guerlain has partnered with UNESCO to train new beekeepers, create beekeeping affiliates across the world and measure the benefits of the pollination in the biosphere reserves. Bees are fundamental in pollination as key pollinators, and thus conserving this key ecosystem service ensures food security for our planet. Bees also play in an integral role in Guerlain’s coveted Abeille Royale skincare range, and have been a symbol of the House since its inception in 1828.
As a five-year program, the initiative will become a part of a UNESCO-MAB and LVMH partnership in which the luxury group will support UNESCO’s intergovernmental Man and Biosphere program aimed at conserving biodiversity and supporting practices that sustainably use biodiversity. Training support and hive installation will be coordinated by the OFA, the French Adipology Observatory, a Guerlain partner since 2015. The partnership will center around four main axes:
“Our commitment to sustainability, in the Name of Beauty, now inspires our entire business purpose, the rationale being that in order to protect our exceptional heritage, develop it and share it with future generations, we must integrate sustainable development right into the heart of our business strategy,” commented Laurent Boillot, Guerlain president and CEO.
Early in 2020, the partnership will start with an experimental first year in which eight people, two from each of four pilot UNESCO designated biosphere reserves, will be trained. The four following years will allow for training and support of 20 beekeepers per year from 10 additional different biosphere reserves in 10 different countries. The partnership will culminate in the training of 88 beekeepers from 44 different biosphere reserves.
As a five-year program, the initiative will become a part of a UNESCO-MAB and LVMH partnership in which the luxury group will support UNESCO’s intergovernmental Man and Biosphere program aimed at conserving biodiversity and supporting practices that sustainably use biodiversity. Training support and hive installation will be coordinated by the OFA, the French Adipology Observatory, a Guerlain partner since 2015. The partnership will center around four main axes:
- The training of beekeepers within biosphere reserves.
- The creation and installation of beekeeping operations comprising of 50 hives.
- Technical support and follow-up to ensure sustainable development and a stable business model.
- Measuring the benefits of the pollination in the local ecosystems to implement the recommendations of the IPBES’ report.
“Our commitment to sustainability, in the Name of Beauty, now inspires our entire business purpose, the rationale being that in order to protect our exceptional heritage, develop it and share it with future generations, we must integrate sustainable development right into the heart of our business strategy,” commented Laurent Boillot, Guerlain president and CEO.
Early in 2020, the partnership will start with an experimental first year in which eight people, two from each of four pilot UNESCO designated biosphere reserves, will be trained. The four following years will allow for training and support of 20 beekeepers per year from 10 additional different biosphere reserves in 10 different countries. The partnership will culminate in the training of 88 beekeepers from 44 different biosphere reserves.
