CHINA. L’OCCITANE Travel Retail Asia Pacific has partnered with China Duty Free Group (CDFG) to open the brand’s first sustainable concept store at the Sanya International Duty Free Shopping Complex [CDF Mall] in Hainan.
The green boutique was constructed with 84% eco-certified materials following the brand’s ‘Rethink, Recycle, Reduce’ ethos.
The store takes a holistic approach to sustainability and represents eco-friendly practices from concept and construction through to end-of-life recycling.
It foregoes the use of plastics for eco-friendly materials, uses lightweight, naturally-renewable bamboo fixtures instead of pine and deploys electric delivery trucks for transport. All these elements come together to reduce the boutique’s carbon footprint.
A striking chandelier is one of the store’s key design elements. It was fashioned from recycled L’OCCITANE Immortelle Reset Triphase Essence glass bottles, further promoting circular economy principles.
The boutique’s resin tabletops were crafted from upcycled glass, while the flooring is made from reclaimed timber from an old Chinese wooden boat. Spotlights from the previous shop have also been reused in-store.
Another standout feature is the striking display of sustainable 3D sculptures made by local artisans. Augmented reality and interactive digital elements further enhance the in-store experience and bring L’OCCITANE’s sustainable commitments to life in a fun and engaging way.
In a brand first, the company has teamed up with both CDFG and TerraCycle to launch the first-ever bottle return programme at the CDF Mall. The project aims to encourage all customers to recycle their purchases and promote circular economy practices.
“We are delighted to partner with L’OCCITANE Travel Retail once again with this important and unique sustainability initiative at the Sanya International Duty-Free Shopping Complex,” commented China Duty Free Group General Manager of Perfumes and Cosmetics Central Merchandising Division Grace Wang.
“China Duty Free Group is delighted to offer Hainan travellers the opportunity to enjoy this exclusive eco-experience with an emphasis on caring for the environment and protecting biodiversity.”
L’OCCITANE Group Travel Retail Asia Pacific General Manager Estelle de Bure added, “We hope that the launch of our first sustainability concept store in Hainan will prove inspirational for our customers in finding ways to recycle, reduce waste, and promote the biodiversity of the planet.
“We truly appreciate the continued support of our partner, CDFG, in working closely with us to underline how crucial sustainability is to all of us in our everyday lives, and to the planet as a whole.”
In 2021, L’OCCITANE en Provence was recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as one of the most committed brands in the fight against plastics. The brand has pledged to manufacture 100% of its plastic bottles from 100% recycled waste by 2025.
L’OCCITANE Group is a leader in driving sustainability within the travel retail industry and has partnered with The Moodie Davitt Report for the Sustainability Curated Newsletter.
The company supports the industry’s fight for sustainable change by adopting open source sharing and a proactive, eco-friendly approach to production, packaging, reducing waste, regenerating biodiversity and reducing its carbon footprint.
Footnote (1): The Moodie Davitt Report has launched an e-newsletter, Sustainability Curated, in association with L’OCCITANE. It offers a curated selection of key sustainability stories in travel retail and beyond.
To subscribe free of charge please email Kristyn@MoodieDavittReport.com headed ‘Curated Sustainability’. All stories are permanently archived on this website. If you would like to be added to its mailing list (or to those for any other Moodie Davitt titles), please click here.
Footnote (2): Every fortnight The Moodie Davitt Report publishes Hainan Curated, in association with Foreo, a selection of all recent stories from the offshore duty free sector in Hainan province.
Click here to view all back issues. Please email Kristyn@MoodieDavittReport.com to subscribe.
