Kering launches the “Kering Generation Award X Jewelry”, the first award pushing sustainability and innovation in the jewelry industry involving universities and start-ups

Kering, in partnership with CIBJO - the World Jewellery Confederation – and with the scientific coordination of Poli.Design - Politecnico di Milano, proudly announces the launch of a “Kering Generation Award X Jewelry”, a new expansion of its Award dedicated to advancing innovation and sustainability within the jewelry sector. 

The “Kering Generation Award X Jewelry” aims to support visionary talent whose work demonstrates excellence in sustainable design and practices in jewelry-making, by creating an international community of young students and start-uppers willing to innovate the industry. Through this new Kering Generation Award, the Group is committed to championing creativity, fostering responsible innovation, and driving impactful change across the jewelry sector.

Kering together with its jewelry brands —Boucheron, Pomellato and Qeelin— and the scientific coordination of Poli.Design - Politecnico di Milano, will launch an international contest among 10 world-renowned universities and academies with courses on jewelry and sustainability and start-ups already active in jewelry:

• Each school will have to present at least 3 projects, and the students assisted and mentored by local professors will develop the projects that will be presented to the jury.

• The start-ups will present their own innovations. 
   

Among all the projects submitted, 4 finalists - 2 for the student’s category and 2 for the start-up category - will be presented to the jury next June 2025 at JCK, one of the world’s largest jewelry industry trade events.

Under the theme “Second Chance, First Choice,” the inaugural “Kering Generation Award X Jewelry” invites students and start-ups to reimagine waste as a resource, creating jewelry that turns discarded materials into valuable pieces. This initiative challenges the traditional concept of waste by exploring the potential of creative reuse. Participants are encouraged to design a jewel—whether a single piece or a collection—that transforms waste into something valuable, highlighting the intangible power of creativity.

““Kering Generation Award X Jewelry” embodies the values of innovation and sustainability that are essential for shaping a future where beauty aligns with ethics. By bringing together young talents from leading academical institutions worldwide and start-ups, we are creating a collaborative platform that celebrates creativity and sustainability. We invite students and start-uppers to join us on this journey, to inspire, to innovate, and to lead together the future of sustainable jewelry.”, stated the Professor Alba Cappellieri, Head of Jewelry at Politecnico di Milano and scientific coordinator of the Awards. 

"Extending our Kering Generation Awards to jewelry is a pivotal moment in our commitment to advancing sustainability and innovation in the jewelry industry," said Marie-Claire Daveu, Kering’s Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer. "This new edition, which brings together universities, start-ups, and future leaders, is designed to recognize and support those pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable jewelry. At Kering, we believe that fostering new ideas at the intersection of craftsmanship, technology, and environmental consciousness is essential to driving the transformative change the industry needs."
 

About Poli.Design - Politecnico di Milano
Poli.Design is a consortium of Politecnico di Milano, Italy’s leading technical university that ranks among the top engineering, architecture, and design schools globally. Known for its emphasis on innovation, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, the university plays a leading role in advancing sustainable practices and fostering talent in fields that shape the future. Through partnerships with industry leaders like Kering, Poli.Design supports the next generation of designers and engineers dedicated to developing solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world. 
 

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 start-ups 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.