Luxury skincare brand, La Prairie, has turned its attention to a major climate change issue – the research and protection of glaciers in the Swiss Alps.
The brand has made a donation to the ETH Foundation, which promotes research and teaching at ETH Zurich, to support ongoing work in the field of glaciology.
“We are very honoured to support ETH with this donation. Their pioneering work in the field of climate studies, glaciology and environmental conservation is in line with La Prairie’s overarching value of Swissness – a value centred on excellence and innovation – and its heritage of applying scientific advancements to the preservation of natural beauty,” said La Prairie CEO Patrick Rasquinet.
The glaciers of the Swiss Alps are particularly impacted by climate change as they are witness to the effects of global temperature increases. The immediate impact in Switzerland itself includes melting and receding of these ice masses at an alarming rate. Over the long term, receding glaciers will eventually mean less water resources from ice melt.
Beyond the Swiss border, ice melt from glaciers and ice caps also contributes to sea level changes. Global average sea levels have risen between 10 and 20 centimeters (4 to eight inches) in the past hundred years, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.
Through its donation, La Prairie is committing to the protection of the Swiss landscape and its natural resources.
“We firmly believe that it is essential to support and encourage academics working in the field of environmental research in order to protect not only the natural beauty of La Prairie’s birthplace, but to preserve its resources for generations to come,” said Rasquinet.
