Design Holding takes bolder steps with its sustainability report

MILAN — Leading global high-end design group Design Holding said it was crossing a “ bolder step” in terms of its commitment to sustainability.

The first edition of its sustainability report was published last year, and the second edition published on Thursday covers a wide range of topics: inclusion and empowerment, business ethics and responsibility, eco-design and circular economy, energy and climate change, responsible sourcing and sustainable supply chain management, employee well-being, innovation and product quality, design heritage and culture.

In a copy received by WWD, key goals for the coming years include increasing the percentage of female senior executives from 37% in 2021 to 42% in 2026, as well as conducting a survey of the entire population of the group.

"Creating a thriving and inclusive work environment is a key priority for us and we want that each of our employees reach their full potential. Two of our brands, Flos and Lumens, are led by women and more than 38% of management and middle management positions are currently held by women. They play an important role and contribute to the growth and development of our businesses," Daniel Lalonde, Managing Director of Design Holding, told WWD. Nationally, the advancement of women in the corporate world has been a meteoric rise in Italy, especially in the fashion world, which is mainly led by men.

A report released by market regulator Consob in 2022 showed that women-led businesses do not represented only 2.4% of the total market value of listed Italian companies at the end of 2021.

Elsewhere the focus shifted to promoting people born and/or raised in Italy and from marginalized minority ethnic backgrounds, from early education to working age. Currently, companies in Italy are not obliged to disclose the breakdown of minorities employed by companies.

In the report, Design Holding said it focused on initiatives to support young people talent and encourage greater inclusion across the design community, engaging the external community through partnerships with professional technical schools, universities, business schools and other non-governmental institutions.

The home and interior industry has not escaped criticism as the current environmental crisis is unfolding. A recent United States Environmental Protection Agency report on durable goods found that furniture waste going to landfills has increased nearly 400% from 1960. Overall, large retailers and Niche brands have worked to reduce the negative impact of the industry...