Christelle Capdupuy is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Louis Vuitton. She has been leading the Sustainable Development Department at Louis Vuitton since 2018.
The fashion industry has been facing severe criticism for its environmental impact, poor labor conditions, and animal welfare concerns. Louis Vuitton is no exception—it has been criticized for failing to eliminate forced labor, using animal skins, and generating a high carbon footprint, among other issues. As the world’s largest luxury brand, Louis Vuitton has been working toward a more sustainable business model.
For example, Louis Vuitton has been releasing eco-designed versions of its trainers. These shoes are made with 90% sustainable materials, including recycled polyester and bio-based materials for the upper and recycled polyurethane for the outsole. The series is called “LV Upcycling,” and the original logo is featured on the body of the shoes.
As part of this mission, Louis Vuitton has created the sustainability roadmap Our Committed Journey, which aims to create a positive impact on society and preserve natural resources. Capdupuy is the driving force behind this initiative.
Background
Christelle Capdupuy has a background in chemistry and physics. After studying chemistry and engineering at École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier, she pursued a Master’s in Materials Chemistry at the University of Kent in the UK and another in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics at Université de Bordeaux. Early in her career, she spent seven years at Unilever, working in marketing and account management, ultimately becoming an Account Director.
Career in Sustainability
She then transitioned to an architectural materials manufacturer headquartered in Warwickshire, UK, where she served as BU Director and Sustainable Development Director. In this role, she implemented sustainability policies and partnered with stakeholders such as the Environment and Energy Management Agency and media outlets.
In 2012, she moved to Bouygues Immobilier, a real estate developer, where she spent five years as Sustainable Development Director. There, she led the development and implementation of action plans and strategies for sustainable urban planning, focusing on low-carbon construction and the circular economy. With her extensive experience in corporate social responsibility (CSR), she later joined VINCI, a concessions and construction company.
Joining Louis Vuitton
After a short tenure at VINCI, she joined Louis Vuitton in 2018 as Sustainability Director. Under the Our Committed Journey roadmap, her first mission was ensuring the responsible sourcing of raw materials. The initial goal is for 100% of the raw materials used by Louis Vuitton to be either recycled or environmentally certified by 2025. The company is also working to eliminate single-use plastics in its packaging.
The second key initiative focuses on climate change, with a target to reduce its carbon footprint by 55%. To achieve this, Louis Vuitton is replacing all store lighting with LED bulbs and aiming to power all warehouses and workshops with renewable energy.
The third focus area is the circular economy. By 2025, the company aims to assess the environmental impact of all its products through lifecycle analysis measurements.
Lastly, Louis Vuitton is committed to using recycled or environmentally certified materials for its window displays, fashion shows, and exhibitions.
In 2024, Christelle Capdupuy was promoted to Senior Vice President of Sustainability. As Louis Vuitton’s responsibility toward the environment and society continues to grow, Capdupuy’s role is becoming increasingly important—not only within the company but also in the luxury industry as a whole.
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