5 Signs Emily in Paris Cares about Sustainability (Deep Down)
Emily in Paris. (L to R) Eugenio Franceschini as Marcello, Lily Collins as Emily, Lucas Bravo as Gabriel in episode 408 of Emily in Paris. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
The whole of Emily in Paris Season 4 is officially bingeable on Netflix. The show, which follows American expat Emily (Lily Collins)’s move to France (and new exploration of Italy), has often been criticized for promoting overconsumption and lifestyles out of touch with the Paris Climate Agreement. However, this season offers a glimmer of sustainability hope. Set against the backdrop of glamorous Parisian and delicious Italian life, Season 4 subtly incorporates sustainability into its storyline. From pre-loved fashion to eco-conscious events, the show begins to reflect growing global environmental values, offering viewers moments of more responsible living and shopping amid its trademark glitz. Here are five signs that the show looks poised to turn things around sustainability-wise this season.
Emily in Paris. Samuel Arnold as Julien in episode 410 of Emily in Paris. Cr. Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix © 2024
Circular Fashion
Fashion is key to the essence of Emily in Paris, but this time, recycling clothes has become a feature of the show instead of flaunting fast fashion. In Season 4, Episode 1, Mindy (Ashley Park) turns to Vestiaire Collective after a spat with her boyfriend, Nico, when he gifts her with a JVMA dress that's 'more Kate Middleton' than she usually wears. (His misguided attempt to placate his conservative father.) Mindy takes to Vestiaire Collective, renowned as 'the leading global online marketplace for desirable pre-loved fashion,' to trade the designer piece for a lump sum (perfect for her band’s Eurovision aspirations). The show reflects a trend toward more conscious consumption by featuring a character using a resale platform (and a certified B Corporation, meeting the highest social impact standards). Vintage and pre-loved fashion reduces the demand for new clothing production, a major contributor to carbon emissions.
Similarly, Genevieve (Thalia Besson), Sylvie (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu)’s husband’s ‘illegitimate daughter’, who begins interning at Agence Grateau, explains to Emily how she had just come from a startup that offers designer rentals called Rent the Runway (Season 4, Episode 7). The company aims to create ‘the world’s largest shared closet.’ It allows you to reserve designer outfits for weddings, parties, or work events. The rented clothes, which you dry clean before and after, enable you to cut down on the waste of buying something you may have only worn once. Unfortunately, because of their rigorous cleaning policy, Genevieve was stuck ‘unboxing people’s morning-after clothes’ and ‘identifying stains.’ Rent the Runway also supplies reusable plastic garment bags that can be returned for reuse or recycled into wood-alternative building materials. The fashion company has an Animal Welfare Policy and bans exotic fur.
Another frosty and warm fashion moment takes place in Season 4, Episode 6, when Camille (Camille Razat) offers to share her ski clothes with Emily (not that skiing is the most sustainable sport, although being on the slope can lead to falling in love with the mountains and fresh air, encouraging viewers to preserve the environments they enjoy).
Some of the fashion faux pas that remain in this season include when Sylvie takes step-daughter Genevieve out on a shopping spree because she ‘dress(es) like an American’ (Season 4, Episode 7). The scene pushes excessive fashion consumption with Genevieve exclaiming, “I finally know what they mean by ‘shop til you drop.’” Sylvie replies, ‘That’s why I don’t need exercise or therapy. I leave it all in the dressing room’. Whether you indulge in (hopefully sustainable) shopping practices or not, exercise and therapy can still be beneficial outside of so-called ‘retail therapy.’
Similarly, although funnier, Julien (Samuel Arnold), upon learning that he’ll be heading to Rome for work with Luc (Bruno Gouery) at the last minute, dismisses the latter’s call to pack with an endearingly excited although sustainably insensitive, ‘Amazing! Consider me packed! I’ll shop when we get there!’ (Season 4, Episode 10). These moments, while entertaining, underscore the need to continue normalizing the creative circular fashion practices noted above.
Recycled Accessories
Coming up with creative accessories can also rhyme with sustainability. In Episode 5, Emily adorns a bag made of recycled grape waste, usually left over from wine manufacturing. She wears the INCXNNUE-designed bag at a product launch at the Samaritaine, a luxury French department store owned by LVMH (on which JVMA appears loosely based). We see the bag while Emily walks away from the event with her boss Sylvie and co-worker Luc. INCXNNUE, a Paris-based company, prides itself on a blended neo-artisanal approach, putting innovation and sustainability first in its offer of accessories.
Emily in Paris. (L to R) Bruno Gouery as Luc, Lily Collins as Emily, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu as Sylvie Grateau in episode 405 of Emily in Paris. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
Sustainable Sports Events
Several scenes from Emily in Paris Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2, occur at JVMA’s suite at the French Open (Roland-Garros). Mindy and Nico’s relationship takes a hit while the two are at the company suite, but the choice of event is a win for the environment. The legendary tennis tournament was the first international French sporting event to be certified ISO 20121, standardized sustainability criteria for events recognized internationally. Though they never mention it, the choice of Roland-Garros reflects more positive subliminal environmental choices.
Sustainable Means of Transport
The series shows a catchy stream of alluring sustainable means of transport, particularly pointing out idyllic metro scenes (exclusively above ground) with blue skies and green trees, which could encourage viewers to use public transport more. In Episode 6, Camille’s dad, Gérard (Christophe Guybet), invites Emily to join their family in Megève in the French Alps and delegates train instructions to Gabriel (Lucas Bravo). Unfortunately, the positive train approach is offset by the series’ promotion of airlines and short-haul flights like the one from New York to Chicago, which Emily boasts to Genevieve can give you a round trip in a day. (Admittedly, the alternatives for that route are not very attractive, a 15-hour bus trip or an almost 20-hour train ride) (Season 4, Episodes 6 & 7). While the show attempts to suggest more sustainable choices, it still balances convenience with environmental responsibility, leaving room for improvement in future seasons.
Sustainable Care from the Cast
The real-life Sylvie Grateau, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, spoke about sustainability on set and in scripts while attending Series Mania, a series festival in France, earlier this year. She admitted that she depends on what others do in production but highlighted that more is being done on set.
While Emily in Paris has not always displayed a perfect wardrobe and romantic choices (Emily even reflects on how 'sustainable' her love triangle with Gabriel and Camille is, Episode 7), this season seems to be making an effort in the sustainability department. Though far from being a model for sustainable living, Season 4 presents subtle yet significant changes that signal a shift in mindset. The emphasis on pre-loved fashion, recycled accessories, and eco-conscious sports events suggests that the show is moving in a more environmentally aware direction, aligning with EMA’s mission of encouraging greener characters and plotlines in popular media. Of course, the glamorous high-carbon lifestyles and luxury brands will likely continue to play a central role as Emily embarks on la dolce vita in Rome. Still, luckily, many high-end companies are shifting to sustainable practices for corporate environmental responsibility (CER) purposes. As sustainability becomes an ever more pressing issue, watching how shows like Emily in Paris adapt to reflect these values more deeply will be interesting.
Cassie Jo is an entertainment journalist specializing in sustainability on screen and is currently completing a masters in Environmental Policy at Sciences Po Paris.
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