Last updated on November 12th, 2022 at 04:08 am
Are there any eco friendly watches in the market? How many of these are recycled watches, fair trade certified watches, and affordable eco friendly watches? And what do you do with old watches? Let’s find out.
Back when I was in university, with more money than I’d had as a kid and a strong love for watches, I used to collect cheap, pretty watches. I remember one day, my friend looked at my timepieces and asked, “How many watches do you need?” All watches tell the same time. How many did I need, indeed, to know the time? I found his question hilarious. But I continued collecting, and only stopped a few years later, when I realized how badly made the cheap watches were. They all stopped working ~ like clockwork ~ in a couple of years, the straps came apart, and I had to throw them away, as they ended up being good for nothing.
I’ve since been solely interested in quality timepieces. Beautifully made watches handed down from generation to generation. Again, any human will need, at the most, just one such piece, if that. And, with our smartphones telling us the time now, wrist watches have become ornamental to most people. With smart watches making an entry, there’s a new category of ‘essential’ watches. These watches don’t just tell you the time; they display your heart rate, oxygen saturation, sleep quality, and much, much more.
How Do Watches Affect the Environment?
A wristwatch doesn’t particularly seem unsustainable in the grand scheme of things. A watch just sits there and does its thing, not harming me or anyone else, right?
Wrong.
The watch industry, as a whole, has been quite careless with the environment. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has assessed nearly every major watch brand as“non-transparent” when it came to sharing their companies’ environmental standards and practices, as per their 2018 report. Just like the jewelry industry, which has appalling environmental and labor standards, the watch industry (remember it’s ornamental just like jewelry) displays a lack of “good environmental standards,” according to WWF.
The watch industry has flown under the radar, and has not faced much pressure to adhere to environmental standards. The established players in the industry have not done enough to remedy the situation, whether it is through using sustainable materials, energy efficiency in the manufacturing units, packaging and shipping, or labor practices. There is no (or very little) transparency in the industry in all these aspects. At best, it’s been seen as an add-on marketing aspect, and at worst the environmental effects have been stoutly ignored.
How can we make sure we’re buying an eco-friendly watch? Luckily, there are a bunch of new players in the watch market that have the right environmental priorities.
How Do You Make a Watch Sustainable?
What is considered eco friendly? Well, cheap plastic watches are definitely not eco friendly. Quality and longevity are the foundation of an eco friendly watch. It’s similar to fast fashion as well as cheap technology: when you use low quality materials, terrible labor practices, lack of sustainability principles, built-in obsolescence, etc., you cannot end up with an eco friendly product. What are the important aspects, according to me, of a well-made, eco friendly watch?
1 // Eco Friendly Materials
Is the watch made of sustainably sourced materials? While watches have historically been made with metal parts, newer models use recycled metal, natural materials and, importantly, conflict-free metals.
What about the battery? Materials for batteries are mined under suboptimal conditions, to put it mildly, and disposal of a battery is another unsustainable aspect. Over 300 million watches are manufactured every year that use batteries. This translates to over 300 million batteries needing to be replaced every couple of years. So what is the alternative? Watches powered by the Sun?
2 // Labor and Fair Trade Practices
How are the people up and down the watch’s supply chain being treated? This may not directly speak to the environmental sustainability of the end product, but it is a very important hidden aspect of a product’s manufacturing. If local communities, workers and employees at the end-product showroom are all treated fairly and safely, and by adhering to ethical labor practices, that indicates the priorities of the company, and shows that they’re doing it for more than just the marketing ‘look’ of making an eco-friendly product.
3 // Sustainability Practices
Do the brands make an effort to clean up their entire manufacturing and supply chain process? This refers to carbon offsets, renewable energy for the factories, collection of old products for recycling, sustainable packaging, repair and servicing, and more.
4 // Community Support
Not just as a CSR initiative, but what, if anything, are the companies doing to support their community? Giving back to environmental and social organizations and charities from their profits is a big part of helping make the world more sustainable.
All the above conditions being met by a single company is very rare, so try your best to meet as many of the conditions as possible. Remember, the best thing to do is to not buy anything, the second best thing to do is to buy second-hand, and if these options fail, then your best bet is to buy from an eco friendly brand.
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21 Brands of Ethical, Eco Friendly Watches
What is the most eco friendly brand? Here are 21 watch brands for you to check out (in alphabetical order)!
1 // Awake
Price: €199 – €269
These are watches made from recycled materials. Paris-based brand Awake’s watch straps are made from Phoenix fabric strap, which is 100 percent recycled plastic water bottles. They also developed the first watch case made from recycled fishing nets. They also make watches with recyclable steel and cellulose straps. The watch is powered by the Sun, and needs no disposable batteries.
Awake’s “desire is to rethink the model of consumption by imagining the objects and interactions of a new, more respectful and more sustainable world.” They offer a two-year warranty on their watches.
Awake’s Programme 360 initiative will accept your old watches (any brand) for recycling. This is their push toward the adaptation of a circular economy.
2 // Baume
Price: $490 upwards
Baume’s eco-friendly quartz watches are made without the use of exotic materials or precious metals. All the straps are crafted in natural materials such as linen and cork fabric, and recycled materials such as ocean plastic, and are interchangeable thanks to their recycled button system. Each one is lined with cork for comfort.
The upcycled Baume Ocean Limited Edition collection has been created in collaboration with Waste Free Oceans (WFO) and SEAQUAL, two organizations that collect plastic debris from the seas to transform them into innovative products.
Baume donates 2% of the proceeds from the sale of each watch to the NGO Waste Free Oceans.
3 // Citizen
Price: $247 – 445
Citizen’s ECO-DRIVE collection features a battery-free light-powered operation. This eco-drive technology converts any light, natural or artificial, into energy, which is stored in the permanently rechargeable power cell. Meaning, no battery change ever! This was created in 1976, though, so it isn’t clear what they’ve been up to since then. This is a solid choice if you’re looking for a quality watch with no battery requirements. But other than that, Citizen needs to up its sustainability game.
4 // Classic Engineering
Price: $249
This Classic Vario watch is minimalist even in its usage of materials. The look and feel is minimalist, with materials that are of high quality. The straps are handmade from vegetable-tanned leather.
This Vario watch has been designed to be 100% repairable, and lasting for years to come. They also provide maintenance and repair service indefinitely.
5 // Dan & Mez
Price: €159
Vegan, cruelty-free watches! Dan & Mez is a PETA-approved sustainable watch company based in Austria. The watches are handmade in Germany, following fair trade principles. The watch straps are vegan plant-based leather (not plastic!), made from recycled pineapple leaves, and they are committed to using ethical manufacturing processes. They offset their carbon footprint (and are carbon neutral) and use sustainable packaging.
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6 // Eone
Price: $285
Eone timepieces are incredibly special in that they are accessible for blind people, and you can tell time by sight or touch. Eone founder Hyungsoo Kim was studying at MIT when he learned of this problem through a friend who is blind. Kim collaborated with designers and persons with vision impairments to create a watch that everyone can use and enjoy. The materials used in the eco watches include titanium, stainless steel, ceramic, aluminum, leather, and canvas.
Eone have a trade-in program for your watch, and they support organizations that work with blind individuals.
7 // JORD
Price: $199 – $350
JORD makes watches with wood. Thirteen different types of wood, in fact, and they have transparent information on where the wood is sourced from. Their watches have an integrated steel case on the inside, which increases the piece’s durability and longevity. Their wooden bands for the Apple watch have good reviews.
8 // Ksana
Price: £75
Ksana refers to ‘time’ or ‘moment’ in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy. Ksana’s gender-neutral watches are made from silicone. The watches are vegan and cruelty-free. They follow principles of circularity, and take back every watch at the end of its life – for all components to be upcycled or recycled. “Given we get joy from creating new products, we appreciate we must also be able to provide a solution for them when they reach the end of their life.” They use cardboard packaging, which they encourage you to recycle. Ksana offers some of the more affordable sustainable watches.
Ksana is part of the 1% for the Planet alliance, donating 1% of their sales to environmental causes.
9 // Lux Woods
Price: From $99.57
Lux Woods makes each eco-friendly watch by hand, rendering each one unique. Their watches are shipped in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging and
A part of the sales from each purchase is donated to FeedtheChildren.org and Plantabillion.org.
If you have an Apple watch and are interested in getting a wooden strap for it, check out Lux Woods’ Apple band straps.
10 // Mondaine
Price: $195 – $220
Mondaine’s Essence Eco Collection is their sustainable line of watches.
The watch straps are made from recycled plastic bottles, cork, and castor bean oil.
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11 // Nordgreen
Price: $199 – $275
Nordgreen is a Danish company founded by Vasilij Brandt and Pascar Sivam, who wanted to build a brand that is sustainable while also being aesthetically pleasing. And boy have they succeeded! Jakob Wagner, Chief Designer at Nordgreen, does an excellent job. Nordgreen follows principles of ethical and responsible manufacturing, and they offset all their carbon emissions, including shipping. Their packaging is sustainable, and they have a robust giving back program that includes working with NGOs on education, meals, rainforest protection, and more.
Nordgreen also has a refurbished watches collection.
12 // REC
Price: $198 – $1,795
REC, founded by Jonathan Kamstrup and Christian Mygh, specializes in eco friendly men’s watches, with the brand name referring to the concepts of Recover, Recycle, Reclaim. What’s super cool is that the watches are made from reclaimed parts from cars that are beyond repair, including iconic models such as the Porsche 911 (The 901 Collection), Ford Mustang (The P-51 Collection), the Mini Cooper (The Mark 1 Collection), and more. Each timepiece is unique, with a fascinating story to tell.
Their latest, limited-edition collection is made from Shelby Mustangs.
13 // SOLIOS
Price: $270 – $280
Solios watches are made to counter built-in obsolescence. This Canadian brand was founded by Alexander Desabrais and Samuel Leroux. The watch case is made from 100% recycled stainless steel, and the straps are made from a silicone-based leather reinforced with recycled plastic microfibres. The watch is solar-powered, which means there is no need for a battery. And the designs ain’t bad looking, with minimalist elegance in every piece.
You can send in your old watches for recycling, and get a discount on a new Solios watch.
Solios is a certified B Corp, and partners with several non-profits, including Make-A-Wish and David Suzuki Foundation.
14 // Solgaard
Price: $145 – $195
Solgaard is very much against plastic pollution. Each purchase removes 229 plastic bottles from the ocean. They’re also against short-lived products; their watches are designed to last for many years. The elegant hexagonal design is meant to make it easier to tell the time (something that the founders felt minimalist watches were lacking in).
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15 // Tense
Price: $150 – $240
Tense watches use 100% recycled or reclaimed wood and natural leather, with each piece being handmade in Canada. They have a vegan watch collection, too.
BTW, you can design your own watch – customize it according to your taste – and they will make it for you!
Tense is a member of 1% for the Planet.
16 // TIVC
Price: AUD $190 – $220
TIVC involves some Roman numerals and stands for Time IV Change. Their handcrafted eco friendly vegan watches are cruelty-free and PETA-approved. This Australian brand makes sure to use materials that have a minimal impact on the environment, including recycled materials.
TIVC donates 10% of their annual profits to environmental and animal welfare organizations. They also support many other causes.
17 // TRIWA
Price: $99 – $699
TRIWA stands for ‘Transforming the Industry of Watches’, and it is a Swedish brand that was founded with the intention of changing the watch industry. They source their chrome-free vegetable-tanned leather from Swedish organic tannery Tärnsjӧ. TRIWA’s Time for Oceans collection is made completely from recycled ocean plastic. They have a Time for Peace collection made from ‘Humanium metal’ – metal forged from destroyed illegal firearms, and a portion of the profits goes back to the communities that the firearms were recovered from. TRIWA works in support of ending gun violence, and for each watch sold, they donate additional funds to their partners in El Salvador.
Click here for a really funny watch that they made for April Fool’s.
18 // Vestiaire Collective
Price: Varies
Recycled watches have entered the building! So, Vestiaire Collective sells gently used, pre-owned watches, and this is a brilliant place to score a collectible at rock bottom prices. Think Bulgari, Gucci, Chopard, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier.
Vestiaire Collective has a thrift store online where you can sell your own used watches.
Vestiaire Collective has charity sales often, and donates all proceeds to local charities.
19 // Votch
Price: £84 – £135
Such a clever name! Votch is a UK-based, PETA-approved eco friendly vegan watch brand. Their straps are made from eco-leather alternatives and from cotton woven microfibre with PU. All their materials are PVC- and phthalate-free, and also include recycled material. Their packaging is made from recyclable materials with low environmental impact.
Votch donates 10% of their profits to charity.
20 // WeWood
WeWood is an Italian company making eco-friendly watches since 2009. In fact, they were one of the first companies to create watches made from wood. The watches are made from recycled materials and reclaimed wood such as maple, black wood, recycled teak and rosewood.
WeWood plants one tree for every watch purchased from them. They have collaborated with Trees for the Future and planted hundreds of thousands of trees together.
21 // WoodWatch
Price: $89 – $209
WoodWatch is a sustainable watch brand that plants ten trees for each watch sold. They’ve planted 200,000 trees worldwide so far. Their watches are handmade from sustainable wood, and they use cardboard and pinewood packaging. You can also personalize your watch with engravings.
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NOTE: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands/businesses.
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