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In a world driven by fast fashion and disposable trends, finding accessories that embody both style and sustainability can feel like an uphill battle. However, when it comes to watches, there is a growing number of ethical and sustainable brands making their mark in the fashion industry.
These timepieces not only adorn your wrist with elegance but also align with your values by promoting fair practices, using eco-friendly materials, and supporting social initiatives.
Get ready to discover 7 remarkable watch brands for both men and women that will make you feel proud to wear a timepiece that reflects your commitment to a better world.
1. Solios
About
Founded in Montreal in 2019, the founders Alex Desabrais and Samuel Leroux have dedicated their brand to change the way we experience fashion.
They were inspired by Montreal’s sustainability initiatives and wanted to start a brand that had sustainability rooted in their values and the way they made their products.
Materials
These watches are made to last a lifetime, so you won’t need to worry about replacing them anytime soon – or ever.
The batteries are solar-powered, so as long as they see some light throughout the day, your watch will keep ticking.
All the watches are made with silicone eco-leather combined with 100% recycled microfiber and 100% recyclable stainless steel body. They are made to last a lifetime and are free from PVC, PU, and toxic waste. At the end of their life, they can also be recycled!
Packaging
Solios packages their watches in 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard. They use natural ink, organic glue, and recycled paper in the booklet so that they are practicing sustainability all the way through.
Sustainability Initiative
Solios’ watches are powered by renewable energy, and the batteries are made to last up to 50 years, so you never need to worry about replacing them!
They are also partners with Make A Wish and the David Suzuki Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that’s working hard to conserve and protect the natural environment and help create a sustainable world.
Supply Chain & Labour Practices
They have suppliers in China, Canada, USA, Japan, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. These factories were chosen after ensuring that they met their strict standards and requirements.
Solios made their suppliers sign a “Supplier Code of Conduct” and “Responsible Procurement” that Solios created and had asked the factories for certifications and accreditations before working with them.
2. TIVC
About
TIVC stands for Time IV Change. They are dedicated to keeping a low carbon footprint without compromising the quality of their watches.
Materials
The Pinatex collection is uniquely crafted from pineapple leaves, sourced from the by-product of pineapple harvest, so no extra energy, water, or land is used.
In their Eco-Suede collection, they use recycled polyester from t-shirts and fibers and recycled PET from bottles and plastic to make the bands.
Their vegan leather watchband is made from ultra-fine fiber bundles, high-grade polyurethane, and raw and recycled materials.
All the materials they use are vegan and free from plastic and PVC.
Packaging
TIVC makes their watch cases from 100% recycled aluminum.
95% of their packaging is compostable, recycled, or recyclable. The other 5% is reusable!
Sustainability Initiative
Because TIVC uses recycled materials, their energy consumption and CO2 emissions reduced by 80%.
They currently offset carbon on all shipping to customers.
Supply Chain & Labour Practices
TIVC watches are produced in a factory in Hong Kong that is SA8000 certified, which means the people who produce the watches are treated and paid fairly for their work.
3. TRIWA
About
TRIWA stands for ‘Transforming the Industry of Watches.’ Founded in 2007 by four friends, they started with a single goal: to transform the watch industry through new designs and creativity.
Their Time for Peace collection was developed to “fight armed violence, give back to conflict-torn societies, and be a symbol of peace for your wrist.”
Materials
The Time for Peace watch collection is made from the metal of illegal firearms, called Humanium Metal. For the straps, they offer organically tanned leather or recycled PET nylon.
In the Time for Oceans collection, both the case and strap are made from recycled ocean plastic.
Please note that real leather is used in some of their watch designs.
Packaging
All cases on the Humanium watches are made from 100% Humanium metal.
The case is made from the recycled plastic ocean in the Time for Oceans Collection.
Sustainability Initiative
15% of your purchase from the Time for Peace collection goes to local violence prevention programs.
With the help of IM, TRIWA has been able to melt down 4,500 illegal weapons and give back $100,000 to IM to take away illegal weapons and stop local violence.
For the Time for Oceans collection, TRIWA joined with #tide ocean material in Switzerland to up-cycle and process the ocean plastic. After the plastic is collected from the ocean, they use solar energy to transform it into grains which are further used to create the Time for Oceans watches.
Supply Chain & Labour Practices
TRIWA visits their factories twice yearly to ensure they meet their ethical requirements.
4. Mondaine
About
The Mondaine Group is an independent Swiss watch company. It is based in Switzerland and was founded by Erwin Bernheim in 1951.
Materials
Their white case is made from castor oil, fossil plastics, glass powder, and color. Their interchangeable strap is made from recycled PET bottles.
Metal watch cases are made from 100% post-consumer recycled metals.
Mondaine’s bands are made from leather alternatives such as recycled rPET felt, rPET nylon, cork, organic cotton, wonder tree oil plants, and linen.
The “essence” collection is their most sustainable watch and is made from 70% natural raw materials such as oil from the wonder tree plant (moringa) and glass powder.
Packaging
Their textile pouch is made from recycled PET bottles.
Some Mondaine watches have switched to over 50% smaller and lighter packaging made from recycled PET, which even has a secondary use as a small pouch.
All printed paper (catalog, printer, necessary enclosures) is FSC certified (from sustainable and social forestry). The Mondaine Group has completely switched over to recycled paper for all instruction manuals, brochures, and printer paper.
Sustainability Initiative
Mondaine is one of the first entirely carbon-neutral watch companies in the world and has been engaged in reducing their carbon footprint for several decades.
In 1973, Mondaine produced the first solar-powered analog wristwatch.
It’s also the world’s first watch company to offer free watch recycling in Switzerland. Customers can send in the watches they don’t use, and they will adequately dispose of, reuse, or recycle the materials in their factories.
Supply Chain & Labour Practices
Its factory is located in Biberist, Switzerland, and solar panels power 80% of its energy, while the remaining energy is powered by green energy.
They work with factories that comply with their Code of Conduct, principles of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Charter of Sustainable Development of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).
This includes prohibiting discrimination, compensating claims for overtime work, banning child labor, having a safe workplace, banning exploitation, responsible environmental management, fair competition, and protecting intellectual property.
5. Nordgreen
About
The name Nordgreen comes from the two words ‘Nord’ and ‘Green.’ The “Nord” represents their Nordic identity, while the “Green” represents their commitment to our environment.
Material
Their vegan leather straps are made from blended polyester and cotton.
All of Nordgreen’s watches are free from phthalate plasticizers and heavy metal stabilizers.
Packaging
Nordgreen’s packaging is FSC certified, including the cardboard paper case (which comes from responsibly managed forests) and the felt insides of the box formed from using up-cycled plastic bottles.
Sustainability Initiatives
Nordgreen plans to make every part of its business carbon neutral. They have already started by planting trees in the Latin American rainforests to offset their emissions.
They use Flexport to ship their products, which charges them per carbon tonne. 100% of the proceeds go to Carbonfund.org, an NGO with a mission “to reduce and offset climate impact and hasten the transition to a clean energy future.”
Supply & Labor Practices
Their watches are manufactured in a Danish-owned watch factory in China, which has excellent working conditions that are based on Danish labor practices. The owners regularly visit the factories to ensure these practices continue to meet their standards.
6. Votch
About
Votch is based in the UK and was founded by Laura after she was diagnosed with a condition called Topical Steroid Withdrawal.
At Votch, they believe that they should continue to do the best they can and strive to do better and create a product completely cruelty-free with as little harm to the environment as possible.
Materials
In their Moment Collection, the watch straps are made from a blend of TPE, polyester, and cotton.
They use a cotton woven microfibre with PU in their Classic Collection.
Their Pinatex Collection is made from fibers extracted from pineapple leaves that have already been harvested. No extra land, pesticides, or fertilizers are used, and this also provides additional income for farmers.
Packaging
Votch watches are packaged in luxury but recyclable materials with a low environmental impact.
Sustainable Initiatives
Great news: Votch is vegan-friendly!
Every three months, Votch partners with a different charity of the season. They donate 10% of profits during this time. You can see and read more about who they are supporting and giving back to in their Giving Back section.
Supply Chain & Labour Practices
After employing a team to help them find a factory that could make the watches and meet their high standards, they found a factory in Shenzhen, China, that does all of the above.
This factory pays its employees fairly and has a safe work environment.
Final Thoughts
By choosing an ethical and sustainable watch brand, you can make a powerful statement about your values and contribute to a more responsible fashion industry.
I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and inspiration. The world of fashion is evolving, and we, as conscious consumers, have the power to shape its future.
Whether it’s through their use of eco-friendly materials, their support for fair trade practices, or their dedication to social initiatives, each brand represents a step towards a more sustainable future. By supporting these ethical watch brands, you become part of a movement that values craftsmanship, transparency, and positive impact.
Remember, every purchase has the power to shape the world we live in. By choosing a timepiece from one of these brands, you are not only investing in a beautiful accessory but also contributing to a more sustainable and equitable fashion industry.
Let me know what you think in the comments below! You can also read my post on tips for dressing sustainably to ensure your wardrobe is as ethical and sustainable as possible! 💚
Until next time,
Farah 🌱
