Dolce&Gabbana’s Packaging Guidelines: Reduce, Reuse, Recover and Recycle

Part of Dolce&Gabbana’s commitment to sustainability is the goal of reducing the use of single-use virgin plastic in packaging by 50% by 2025.

To support this goal, Dolce&Gabbana has developed a dedicated approach to packaging based on the 4R principles: Reduce, Reuse, Recover and Recycle, complemented by Certification.

1. REDUCE

Key principles:
– Eliminate unnecessary packaging wherever possible, with the aim of reducing the use of materials.
– Reduce packaging weight and volume, optimizing transport efficiency without compromising packaging quality or durability.
– Progressively reduce the use of single-use plastic in both industrial packaging and packaging intended for end customers.

Dolce&Gabbana’s initiatives

Dolce&Gabbana has already eliminated the use of plastic components in gift packaging and is extending its efforts to the remaining types of packaging used in the retail channel. Initiatives include replacing handles and ribbons on shopping bags with cotton components and using recycled plastic for garment covers.

For Casa products, the goal is to eliminate magnets from gift packaging, reduce packaging volumes and explore alternatives to expanded polyethylene, while continuing to ensure product protection.

For packaging used in industrial processes, Dolce&Gabbana also aims to completely eliminate plastic shrink wrap by 2025.

Since autumn 2023, a new machine has been adopted for flat-packed garments, avoiding the use of plastic material for this application.

2. REUSE

Key principles:
– Favor, where applicable, packaging solutions designed for durability and suitable for multiple uses.
– Increase opportunities for the reuse of packaging used in industrial processes.

Dolce&Gabbana’s initiatives

For certain types of packaging, including shopping bags and metal boxes, Dolce&Gabbana uses durable materials with the aim of supporting their longevity and potential reuse.

Dolce&Gabbana Beauty is also expanding its range of refillable products with Refillable Everfull XL Mascara, Refillable Everlift Luminizer, Devotion Eau de Parfum Refillable and Q Eau de Parfum Refillable. The related packaging solutions are designed to allow the products to be refilled.

In particular, using a 150 ml refillable Eau de Parfum solution results in a 76% reduction in the total weight of packaging compared with using three 50 ml non-refillable packs.

More specifically, the comparison shows a 72% reduction in glass, 100% reduction in metals, 48% reduction in plastic and 62% reduction in paper and cardboard used

3. RECOVER

Key principles:
– Promote material recovery initiatives within industrial processes and, where applicable, initiatives involving end customers.
– Develop projects aimed at recovering and enhancing the value of materials that can no longer be used for their original purpose.

Dolce&Gabbana’s initiatives

One of Dolce&Gabbana’s recovery projects involves packaging for underwear.

The initiative began in early 2023 through a collaboration with a long-standing industrial supplier of the Group. As part of a transformation process involving multiple parties, fabric waste that can no longer be used for commercial purposes is recovered and transformed into paper intended for packaging.

Thanks to this collaboration, 10,200 kg of fabric have been reintroduced into the transformation process described above, for the production of paper intended for packaging.

4. RECYCLE

Key principles:
– Increase, where applicable, the use of recycled, recyclable, renewable or compostable materials in both product and industrial packaging.
– Prioritize solutions that facilitate material recycling, including by simplifying packaging composition.
– Pay attention to the substances used in materials and processes in relation to the subsequent recycling stage.
– Provide information on material characteristics and appropriate packaging disposal methods.

Dolce&Gabbana’s initiatives

Dolce&Gabbana aims to use 100% recycled plastic for retail packaging by March 31, 2025.

Tertiary packaging used for logistics purposes is made from 80% recycled cardboard.

Dolce&Gabbana also participates in the Hangerloop program for the purchase, recovery and reuse of hangers made from 100% recycled plastic.

Discarded hangers undergo a shredding and melting process, and the resulting material is used to produce new hangers for Dolce&Gabbana warehouses.

5. CERTIFICATION

Key principles:
– Where applicable, select materials covered by recognized certification schemes, in accordance with their respective requirements and scopes.
– Support the traceability of material characteristics through applicable.

Dolce&Gabbana’s initiatives

Paper and cardboard packaging for Beauty products is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.

Dolce&Gabbana also aims to extend FSC certification to paper and cardboard packaging used for products and in the retail channel by March 31, 2025.