Eyes on the Planet

Embracing Sustainability with Eyes on the Planet

4 min

Published on 11 Dec 2023

Through its Eyes on the Planet program, EssilorLuxottica embraces sustainability across its entire ecosystem, including employees, suppliers, partners and customers, with concrete actions that support five strategic pillars — Carbon, Circularity, World Sight, Inclusion and Ethics.

EssilorLuxottica is on track to achieve carbon neutrality for its direct activities (Scope 1 & 2 emissions) by 2025, starting in Europe in 2023, following the goals reached in Italy and France. An important step in this path was the signing of a 12-year Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ERG, a leading European producer of energy from renewable sources, to directly source wind electricity in Italy from 2023. In addition, 11 new photovoltaic systems were installed during the year to increase the proportion of renewable energy.

EssilorLuxottica also committed to setting near-term emissions reduction targets according to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This represents another step forward in its long-term goal to address climate change by reducing the carbon footprint in its operations and value chain.

EssilorLuxottica’s climate commitment is deeply intertwined with its circularity approach, leveraging its sustainable innovation expertise across its products and services. Starting in Italy, the Company introduced in selected Ray-Ban stores the ‘Ray-Ban Repair & Renewal Station’ this year to expand product longevity plus engage consumers in the brand’s culture of care, repair and renew as part of their in-store experience. Similarly, Salmoiraghi & Viganò stores in Italy added an innovative service to extend the life of collected eyewear by reusing them, when it is possible, to give them a second life, or recycling them, when they can no longer be reused. This is another milestone in the retail brand’s sustainability journey, which started with the introduction of green last-mile delivery and a responsible shipping option, which is a free service in partnership with the Company’s logistics providers.

To reiterate its sustainability commitments within the organization, the Company held its second annual ‘EssilorLuxottica Sustainability Week’ in April 2023 and partnered with innovation entrepreneur Matteo Ward to create an exciting ‘edutainment’ video project called ‘Back to Sustainability’ hosted on its Leonardo platform. The Company also launched global campaigns for Earth Day and World Oceans Day to enhance internal awareness of its commitment and actions on environmental issues.

Focusing on its World Sight goals, EssilorLuxottica announced a partnership with the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety in May that reinforces its commitment to promote good vision on the road. As every year in October, EssilorLuxottica celebrated World Sight Day by launching ‘The Right to See’ global campaign, in partnership with award-winning photographer Steve McCurry, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of good vision through visually stunning portraits. In addition, 1,322 employees and Foundation volunteers participated in World Sight Day 2023 activities across the globe, to drive the vision-care agenda and improve access for all.

Awareness campaigns and initiatives on Leonardo and locally aimed at promoting an open dialogue among employees and fostering an inclusive work environment also took place throughout the year, notably during International Women’s Day, Pride Month, World Children’s Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Company also involved its local subsidiaries in the activation of awareness initiatives during the first edition of the EssilorLuxottica Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Week in November. Also, reinforcing its ethics efforts in 2023, EssilorLuxottica updated its Code of Ethics and developed a Code of Conduct for business partners to establish harmonized practices and protect human and labor rights across the entire value chain.

Lastly, EssilorLuxottica aims to play an active role in the communities where it operates by adding value through its Eyes on Art initiative, which includes projects that democratize art in all its forms and make it more accessible to a wider audience. This year, innovative projects were included from Arte Sella, GAMEC of Bergamo and the Teatro Grande Foundation of Brescia in Italy, CIRCA in London.