“The survey confirmed that sustainability has grown beyond a level of mere awareness, becoming a genuine strategic factor for the development of brands. It is indeed a necessary condition [for brands] to be able to operate within sophisticated markets in department stores,” said Antonio Achille, a partner in charge of the luxury industry worldwide at consultancy firm McKinsey & Company.The survey was carried out with 90 buyers from department stores operating in 25 countries, including Le Printemps, Hyundai, Takashimaya, Saks, Barneys, Lane Crawford, La Rinascente, Beymen, the Kadewe Group and Isetan Mitsukoshi, whose total value of luxury goods purchases is estimated at €50 billion.

According to the survey, sustainable products  account on average for 23% of department st…