French department store, Printemps, is taking a big stride forward in the sustainability area with the launch of its latest sustainability initiative “Unis vers le beau responsable” (or “United toward beautiful responsibility”) at its Printemps Haussman location.

Gabriela Hearst's fall 2021 debut collection for the label will be exhibited on vintage and locally produced low-impact furniture at a Chloé pop-up in the central atrium of the Printemps Haussmann shop. In a similar spirit, the department store is handing over its windows and entrances to Atelier Laps, a Parisian creative company, for a large-scale installation in recycled wood.

The debut of the eponymous "Unis vers le beau responsable" sustainability label, which seeks to help buyers identify goods and businesses that adhere to best practices in terms of human, ethical, ecological, and social responsibility, is at the core of the event, which runs through Oct. 31.

Printemps said that the world is changing, and big players like Printemps must serve as connectors and catalysts of change. They have always taken hold of cultural trends to incorporate and democratize them into their development.

Brands will be judged on 22 criteria organized into nine categories, ranging from sustainable sourcing to inclusive practices to leveraging expertise and innovation. These guidelines were created in collaboration with Imagin'Able, a professional agency with a council of specialists and reference brands. A brand must get 30 out of a potential 100 points to be considered for Printemps' new label.

The inauguration of the new floor devoted to circularity announced in March and described as "the largest area in the [French] capital dedicated to circularity," will be another highlight of this sustainable project on Sept. 22. It will provide vintage treasures and a secondhand buyback service and will be housed in a historic section of the Printemps Haussmann building that had been closed to the public for almost six decades.

Other initiatives include a collaboration with the French charity Emmaüs to collect garments and accessories across all of the department store doors in France; micro-donations during checkout to benefit the GoodPlanet foundation, founded by famed photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand; and a series of conferences open to the public around circularity.