Winning start-ups embark on a global sustainability tour with the Kering Generation Award
The recent completion of the overseas sustainable journey for the winners of the third annual Kering Generation Award marks a significant milestone. The trip, aimed at leveraging the pioneering position of the global luxury conglomerate Kering Group, empowered Chinese award-winning enterprises to immerse themselves in the Kering sustainable development ecosystem. Through this experience, they showcased their innovative achievements on a collaborative platform, broadened their industry perspectives, and connected with international networks. Spanning 15 days, the journey covered multiple European and American locations including Milan, Florence, Paris, and Silicon Valley.
Rooted in China, the Kering Generation Award has successfully held three editions to date, focusing on key projects aligned with Kering Group's 2025 core sustainable development strategy. The award aims to recognize and support Chinese startups addressing challenges in areas such as alternative materials, green supply chains, retail and usage, and the circular economy, thus positively impacting the environment and society.
The theme of the third edition was "Coming Full Circle," exploring the concept and practice of the circular economy in the fashion industry through three dimensions: circular raw materials, circular product design, and circular business models. Participants in the overseas sustainable journey included the top three from 180 candidate enterprises, as well as the champions from the first and second editions.
One of the journey's highlights was participating in the ChangeNOW Global Summit held in Paris from March 25th to 27th. As the world's largest industry exhibition seeking solutions to protect the planet, ChangeNOW brought together global sustainable innovation talents and leaders to present citizen-driven innovative solutions, foster international cooperation, and drive real change. The 2024 ChangeNOW summit gathered over 35,000 participants from 130 countries to discuss concrete actions across multiple dimensions including soil, climate, biodiversity, resources, and inclusivity.
At this edition of the summit, representatives from previous winners of the Kering Generation Award showcased their innovative achievements:
First edition champion MELEPHANT mimicked the natural synthesis of pigments in plant cells to produce highly colorfast and vibrant natural dyes.
Second edition champion Peelsphere developed PEELSPHERE®, a circular material derived from fruit waste and algae, offering an ideal alternative to leather and synthetic leather.
Third edition champion Yi Design built a complete supply chain for the high-value recycling of discarded ceramics from Jingdezhen to the global market.
Third edition runner-up PhaBuilder focuses on cutting-edge synthetic biology, utilizing microorganisms to produce PHA materials for ecological natural cycling.
Third edition third place Cobbler's Suggest combines digital tools and traditional leather repair techniques to develop an innovative business model for boutique after-sales maintenance services.
During their visit, the award-winning enterprises not only explored Kering Group's headquarters and innovation materials laboratory in Milan but also met with experts and visited Kering's jewelry innovation laboratory (JIL) in Paris. They also visited the headquarters of Kering's subsidiaries including Gucci, Bottega Venetta, Ginori 1735, Boucheron, Saint Laurent, and Balenciaga to exchange ideas on sustainable fashion from the perspectives of store-building materials, product retail, and after-sales service.
As the journey concludes, the winning enterprises expressed significant benefits. Leveraging Kering's industry leadership, professional skills, resource networks, and industry influence, they were able to deeply explore the international sustainable ecosystem, step onto a larger stage for self-showcasing, expand their horizons, and connect with international resources. For these startups in the Chinese fashion industry, this journey undoubtedly represents a valuable growth experience.
