[mind Retail Day] Sephora, Primark, Tara Jarmon and Zapa: maintaining CSR despite regulatory uncertainty

For several years, companies have been encouraged, then forced, to integrate sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies into business models. However, a change of course has been underway since January 2025. “We are seeing a global questioning of ecological thinking and CSR legislation, said Malo Bourel-Weeger, Manager of Public Affairs at Impact France, at the mind Retail Day. Today, CSRD reporting applies to groups with a turnover of more than €40 million and 500 employees, but tomorrow, these companies may no longer be required to do so. Reporting indicators could also change. All this creates legal uncertainty: companies need a stable framework to operate a business.”

Engaging Scope 3 partners in the transition

The round table began with a sharing of key environmental impact figures. At LVMH, in the selective distribution branch that includes Sephora, CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2) have been reduced by a factor of 3 between 2022 and 2024. For the beauty retailer, scope 1 (which concerns stores emissions) has been addressed. 95% of stores now use renewable electricity and the carbon impact of stores has fallen by 50% in 6 years. However, for products, there is a longer road ahead, with a multi-brand retail model selling products from 500 manufacturers. “Last year, we organised a series of webinars with our partners. We need to acculturate an entire ecosystem, organise ourselves with suppliers and explain to them the possible actions in terms of packaging, sourcing and ingredients, explained Matthieu Riché, CSR Director at Sephora.