Sustainable opportunities
for the watch industry

Expectations from the consumers

Inherently, a luxury watch is built to live and be passed down through generations. But transparency, traceability, and circularity are the keywords defining the ethos of the new generation of consumers.
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• Circularity - The growth of the secondary market reflects a shift in consumer attitudes towards more sustainable consumption, supported by big marketplaces and growing Certified Pre-Owned initiatives by the brands. This represents a strong point for the industry currently.
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• Traceability - Younger consumers, also factor brand's eco-initiatives, when making informed purchasing decisions. In the Swiss manufacturing industry, most of the production is made locally due to the commitment of brands to preserve their artisanal expertise. Improvements can still be done regarding the sourcing and reuse of raw materials.
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• Transparency - Brands have the potential to attract new consumers by providing more transparent information about their products, but also on watch servicing and ownership history, bringing trust in the purchasing decisions in the second hand market. Transparency is yet to be improved by the industry.

Expectations from the European market

In Europe, the regulations for products circulating within the EU market are evolving to support the development of a circular economy. The forthcoming EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR) is actively working towards ensuring that consumers have access to relevant information about the products they purchase, fostering informed decision-making and circularity.

Synergies between stakeholders

Re-Luxury, created by Fabienne Lupo is the first event dedicated to the re-commerce of luxury and collectible pieces, as well as to initiatives in the field of the circular economy. This kind of event shall facilitate synergies between brands, technological startups and manufacturers to accelerate transition.

Pioneering the way in sustainability, ID Genève boasts watches with a carbon footprint 10 times lower than traditional models, using a solar oven to melt recycled raw material, sourced locally. Meanwhile, established brands like Chopard are following eco-initiatives, using 80% recycled Lucent Steel for their steel watches.