Longchamp Achieves B Corp Status
French fashion and leather goods brand Longchamp has achieved B Corp certification, a designation that recognizes high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The certification formalizes the heritage brand's long-term commitment to ethical and responsible business practices.
- To achieve B Corp certification, companies must score at least 80 out of 200 on the B Impact Assessment, which evaluates governance, workers, community, environment, and customers; the median score for ordinary businesses is 50.9. B Lab, the nonprofit that administers the certification, requires companies to recertify every three years to demonstrate continuous improvement. - Longchamp joins a growing list of over 650 fashion and apparel-related B Corps globally, including notable brands like Chloé, Patagonia, and Veja. Chloé made headlines in 2021 as the first luxury fashion house to earn the designation. - A key part of Longchamp's environmental strategy has been the transition of its iconic Le Pliage bag to be made from recycled polyamide canvas. The brand aimed to have the entire Le Pliage collection use sustainable materials by 2022 and all its canvas from recycled fibers by 2023. - The company operates a repair workshop that restores approximately 60,000 items annually, extending the life of its products. In 2024 alone, 75,000 products were restored globally. - Longchamp's "Re-Play" collection gives a second life to deadstock materials, using leftover nylon canvas and leather from previous seasons to create new, limited-edition bags. - The brand's tanneries are audited by the Leather Working Group (LWG), an independent body that certifies social and environmental standards. As of 2023, 79% of the leathers used by Longchamp were "Gold" certified by the LWG, and by 2024, that number rose to 88%. - To reduce its carbon footprint, Longchamp prioritizes local production and sea transport over air freight. Starting in summer 2025, the company plans to use wind-powered cargo ships, which is projected to cut transport-related carbon emissions by 60%. - The family-owned company has been recognized by the French government as an *Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant* (Living Heritage Company) since 2007, a label that acknowledges its traditional and industrial craftsmanship.
