Kering Expands Its Global Push for Responsible Jewelry with New Generation Award Edition

Kering Expands Its Global Push for Responsible Jewelry with New Generation Award Edition

(IN BRIEF) Kering, in partnership with CIBJO and with scientific coordination from POLI.design — Politecnico di Milano, has launched the second edition of the Kering Generation Award X Jewelry to drive sustainability and innovation across the global jewelry industry under the theme “Second Chance, First Choice”. The initiative invites startups and students to develop solutions in areas including new sustainable materials, AI applications for jewelry, low-impact packaging, and retail-focused circular technologies, engaging ten leading academic institutions and offering mentorship and internship opportunities for winners. Finalists will present their projects during Haute Couture Week in Paris in July 2026, reinforcing Kering’s broader commitment to responsible innovation, circularity, and collaboration at the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and environmental responsibility.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 7-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Kering, in collaboration with CIBJO — the World Jewellery Confederation — and under the scientific coordination of POLI.design — Politecnico di Milano, has launched the second edition of the Kering Generation Award X Jewelry, reinforcing its commitment to advancing sustainability, innovation, and responsible creativity within the global jewelry industry. Building on the success of the inaugural edition unveiled at JCK Las Vegas 2025, the initiative aims to mobilise startups and students around transformative solutions that reduce environmental impact while redefining the future of jewelry design and production.

The 2026 edition of the Award carries the theme “Second Chance, First Choice”, reflecting a strategic focus on circularity, resource efficiency, and the creative reimagining of materials, processes, and technologies. Through this framework, Kering and its jewelry Maisons — Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, and Qeelin — seek to accelerate a tangible shift toward more sustainable practices across the sector while fostering collaboration between industry, academia, and entrepreneurship.

The call for applications invites startups and students to propose innovative approaches across four key areas: new materials derived from alternative sources, waste streams, or novel production methods; artificial intelligence solutions tailored to jewelry design, prototyping, manufacturing, and optimisation; low-impact or reusable packaging systems that reduce environmental footprint; and retail-focused technologies that enhance efficiency, enable circular business models, and improve both physical and digital customer experiences.

The programme engages ten leading universities and academies specialising in jewelry and sustainability, providing students with mentorship from academic experts as they design a jewel that transforms discarded materials into meaningful, high-value pieces. This approach emphasises the cultural and artistic significance of creativity beyond material value, reinforcing the idea that sustainability in jewelry extends beyond physical resources.

In parallel, selected startups are invited to submit existing products, technologies, or services that align with the Award’s objectives and demonstrate measurable potential to reduce environmental impact within the jewelry industry. These ventures will be assessed based on their scalability, innovation, and contribution to more responsible production and consumption models.

Shortlisted finalists from both categories will present their projects to an international jury in July 2026 during Haute Couture Week in Paris. The winning startup will receive structured mentorship from POLI.design — Politecnico di Milano, while the top student project will be rewarded with an internship opportunity at one of Kering’s jewelry Maisons, offering hands-on experience within a leading luxury brand.

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering, highlighted that the strong response to the first edition demonstrated the growing momentum among emerging talent to reshape the jewelry industry. She emphasised that Kering views the convergence of craftsmanship, technology, and environmental responsibility as essential to the sector’s future, rather than optional.

Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO, noted that jewelry has always reflected what societies consider precious — aesthetically, culturally, and materially — and that contemporary jewelry must now embody environmental and social awareness. He welcomed the continuation of the Award as a meaningful platform for advancing circularity and innovation within the industry.

Alba Cappellieri, Head of Jewelry at Politecnico di Milano and scientific coordinator of the Award, described the initiative as a dynamic space for collaboration and experimentation. She underscored its role in bringing together young creatives and entrepreneurial innovators to co-create more responsible approaches that will shape the next generation of jewelry design.

About Kering

Kering is a global, family-led luxury group, home to people whose passion and expertise nurture creative Houses across couture and ready-to-wear, leather goods, jewelry, eyewear and beauty: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, McQueen, Brioni, Boucheron, Pomellato, Dodo, Qeelin, Ginori 1735, as well as Kering Eyewear and Kering Beauté. Inspired by their creative heritage, Kering’s Houses design and craft exceptional products and experiences that reflect the Group’s commitment to excellence, sustainability and culture. This vision is expressed in our signature: Creativity is our Legacy. In 2024, Kering employed 47,000 people and generated revenue of €17.2 billion.

About the Kering Generation Award

In 2017, as part of its Sustainability strategy, Kering joined the “Plug and Play – Fashion for Good” accelerator to identify more sustainable and innovative materials and processes in Europe. In 2018, in partnership with Plug and Play China, Kering launched the first edition of the “Kering Generation Award” to support Chinese startups with a positive environmental and social impact. Since then, the “Kering Generation Award” has been launched in Japan, and then in Saudi Arabia with the support of the Fashion Commission.

About CIBJO

The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) is the international jewellery confederation of national trade organisations. CIBJO’s purpose is to encourage harmonisation, promote international cooperation in the jewellery industry and to consider issues which concern the trade worldwide. CIBJO’s chief mission is to protect consumer confidence in the industry. The World Jewellery Confederation is the sole jewellery industry organisation to have Special Consultative Status with the United Nation’s Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

About POLI.design—Politecnico di Milano

POLI.Design is a consortium of Politecnico di Milano, ranked among the top 100 universities in the world and is Italy’s leading technical university. Renowned for its outstanding achievements in engineering, architecture, and design, it also excels through its Jewelry Design Department, which serves as a hub of innovation. Recognized for its interdisciplinary and innovation-driven approach, Politecnico di Milano is at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices and educating new generations of designers and engineers. Through partnerships with industry leaders such as Kering, POLI.Design supports the next generation of designers and engineers committed to developing solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world.

Media Contact:

Emmanuelle Picard-Deyme
+ 33 06 20 38 58 95
emmanuelle.picard-deyme@kering.com

SOURCE: kering