COP26, fashion, and sustainability: Gucci's carbon-neutral show and the industry's contradictions

The fashion industry faces scrutiny at COP26 in Glasgow, where Kering's sustainability chief Marie-Claire Daveu called for renewed commitment to emission reductions and restoring natural systems. Gucci's Alessandro Michele presented a 115-look Hollywood-inspired show on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, streamed to 3 million viewers, featuring multigender models and lavish accessories. The event was certified ISO 20121 for sustainable event management, carbon neutral since 2018, with emissions offset via the Kariba REDD+ project in Zimbabwe. Gucci collaborated with EcoSet for material donation and food surplus donation. The fashion sector accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. A new Oxfam and Stockholm Environment Institute report shows that to meet COP26 targets, each person must halve emissions by 2030, but the richest 1% (80 million people) emit 30 times the target, and the next 10% emit 9 times. The industry is shifting toward sustainability, with roles like sustainability engineers emerging, and sustainability seen as a creative opportunity. Italian fashion schools (Politecnico di Milano, IED Como) now offer sustainability-focused master's programs. Despite progress, oversized collections and unsustainable production persist. The article includes a rebuttal from Gucci detailing their sustainability certifications and practices, and a counter-reply from Aldo Premoli noting that carbon neutrality is now standard for such events.