HERMÈS - 2018 Registration document

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Corporate social responsibility

People: savoir-faire

Facilitation of initiatives The sustainable development department coordinates the activities conducted by the Paris sites and manages a schedule of internal activi- ties in France that involves regular events held throughout the year, such as donation drives for clothing and toys, participation in sporting events and Earth Hour (a worldwide movement for the planet organized by WWF and other NGOs), a honey harvest, social support baskets, and so on. Since 2017, the Group has strengthened its commitments in the area of local charitable initiatives through a memorandum circulated to the distribution subsidiaries abroad, setting out the operating and financial methods that they must follow. During the European Sustainable Development Week, all French sites and subsidiaries organise operations with their employees. This sym- bolic week provides an opportunity to share the challenges in this area more widely with employees, along with the Group’s strategy and achie- vements, and to open up to the wider world. In 2018, the Ile-de-France sites participated in events focused on disabilities and eco-actions. Moreover, around 100 employees and their children had an opportunity to attend a private screening of the film “On a 20 ans pour changer le monde”, which was also attended by its director. The discussion that followed gave viewers a better understanding of the challenges posed by the agricultural transition. Laurent Goblet – saddle-making expertise for the 21 st century Hermès has been making saddles continually since its initial creation in 1837. In his fifth-floor workshop above the Hermès store at 24 Faubourg in Paris, Laurent Goblet enhances this savoir-faire which has been one of the House’s hallmarks for some forty years. While attentive exchanges with riders are at the root of the saddler’s métier, the use of the most modern materials and technologies puts it at the cutting-edge. With his state-of-the-art technical expertise, the saddler can thus closely meet the requirements of the rider, and those of the The Group’s accomplishments in relation to “ savoir-faire ” are in line with the following SDGs. (The numbers refer to the UN’s official typology): No. 4: Quality Education s s 4.3: “Ensure equal access for all women and men to quality vocatio- nal education”. Access to vocational training for women and men within the House is encouraged by the internal Ex-Libris University and internal schools for the métiers, as well as by more specialised external training. s s 4.4: “Increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment”. Know-how is enhanced throuth training plans during the entire pro- fessional life, and are reinforced by specific initiatives. Employees participate in both external contests (Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (BestWorkers in France)), and internal challenges, in order to achieve qualifications, so as to sustain existing savoir-faire and revive any 2.2.5 CONTRIBUTION TO THE UN’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

In recent years, the distribution subsidiaries outside France have also embraced Sustainable Development Week, which has become a special event throughout the House. Communication Since October 2018, the new HermèSphère Intranet, accessible to all employees, includes a section dedicated to sustainable development, with information on the Group’s strategy and news from the entities. It also allows employees to submit questions, share information on local initiatives, set up projects and share feedback (see page 123). In March 2018, the retail website Hermès.com was redesigned. It now includes a page dedicated to sustainable development. On that occa- sion, a series of ten films was produced by an external reporter, focusing on the footprint that Hermès wants to leave on the world. This series of films called “ Empreintes sur le Monde ” (Footsteps accross the World) was shown to the teams during special screenings organised in cinemas located near each production unit. Thus, more than 1,160 employees fromthe sites of Paris, Pantin, Val deReuil, Ardennes, theFranche-Comté and Sud-Ouest divisions, andManufacture de HauteMaroquinerie were able to attend the screenings, along with their family members, to get a better grasp of the House’s sustainable development challenges.

horse. The creation of the Arpège saddle with German dressage champion Jessica Von Bredow-Werndl illustrates this work process:

drawing, prototype, followed by trials prior to the production of the rider’s dream saddle, which she wanted thin and lightweight to suit her way of riding. On average, a saddle requires 25 to 40 hours of work and, above all, extensive saddle-making experience.

knowledge that is declining. Hermès also provides support to schools through the apprenticeship tax, and by offering apprenticeships. s s 4.7: “Education to promote sustainable development”. Raising employees’ awareness of sustainable development takes place throughout the year, through the efforts of the sustainable development department (see 2.1.2), and locally by the Sustainable DevelopmentAmbassadors’network(EHS,SustainableDevelopment Committees, local committees, etc.). No. 11: Sustainable cities and communities: s s 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultu- ral and natural heritage”. Hermès is a house of creation, that collaborates with many artists, thereby promoting the development of our creative heritage. Each collection involves the Artistic Director and the House’s métiers, resulting in a profusion of creativity. These actions, recognised by the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living heritage enterprise), for exa- mple, contribute to the Group’s efforts to protect andmaintain artisa- nal savoir-faire . Moreover, the Fondation d’entreprise is committed to supporting live performances and contemporary photography.

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2018 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT HERMÈS INTERNATIONAL

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