Our Strategy
We aim to influence industry-wide change by creating more sustainable products and transitioning to a circular business model for watches and packaging.
2025 Goal
Design and produce 100% of products to meet our pro-planet criteria
2025 Goal
Use 100% circular primary packaging
2025 Goal
Lead in circular business model approaches, beginning with launching a global take-back program
We’re going pro-planet
Designing the world’s most sustainable watches and accessories starts with materials and manufacturing processes. Fossil Group’s pro-planet criteria guides us in integrating more sustainable materials into every product, setting us on the path to create a net positive impact for the planet. Our goal is that 100% of our products meet pro-planet criteria by 2025. Those products that meet our criteria will be awarded with the pro-planet logo below.
To reach our goal of 100% of our products meeting Fossil’s pro-planet criteria, all products must:
- Contain at least one material that has one or more of the of the following attributes:
- Made of more than 50% recycled content
- Proven to dramatically reduce natural resources and/or chemicals during production with the aid of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data
- Renewable and regenerative
- Awarded a well-recognized sustainability certification such as the Leather Working Group certification for leather or the Responsible Jewelry Council certification for jewelry
- 100% of our primary packaging is recyclable or reusable:
We aim for all of the packaging that our consumers go home with to be readily recyclable and/or reusable. A perfect example of packaging that is both, is our Fossil watch tin. We’re not stopping there however, we have projects underway to make as much of our secondary and tertiary packaging across our supply chain recyclable and reusable too
Designing out waste
We think the practice of “take-make-waste” is a thing of the past. That’s why we’re prioritizing creating all of our products and packaging to be fit for future reuse.
Purposeful Products
We have a responsibility to ensure that our products – and the precious raw materials in them – don’t end up as waste. We’re currently developing a product take-back program to collect watches that are no longer wanted. That way, we can turn the materials in them into something new for someone else to enjoy.
Circularity
We aim to transition to 100% circular primary packaging by 2025. This means using packaging that can be reused (like our famous tins) or recycled. This will mean reimagining our packaging through first optimizing our materials usage to strip out any unnecessary packaging, and then take some crucial steps – such as using single-source materials and using water-soluble varnishes – to ensure it is easily recyclable.
Sustainable innovation meets timeless design
Learn about some of the pro-planet materials you’ll find in our products:
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Recycled PET
Recycled PET, otherwise known as polyethylene terephthalate, is a highly recyclable form of polyester. Using PET that is already in circulation means we’re able to reduce the amount of new PET that’s created. Because PET can be recycled and reused again and again, less of it ends up in the landfill.
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Recycled Steel
We’re sourcing more and more steel with over 85% recycled content because using recycled content is one of the most impactful ways of reducing the footprint of a material. According to the EPA, the use of recycled steel in the United States conserves 60-70% of energy – that’s equivalent to the energy used by nearly 26 million American households each year. Its durability, coupled with its infinite recyclability, means that we’re able to create long-lasting products while ensuring we leave a lighter footprint.
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Solar-powered Batteries
Solar-powered watch batteries have an incredible lifespan of around ten years, meaning fewer batteries end up in the landfill. As a more sustainable alternative to single-use silver oxide or lithium-ion batteries, solar units can absorb any source of light – both indoors and outdoors – and convert it into the electrical energy needed to charge the rechargeable battery and power a device.
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Eco Leather
We source our Eco Leather from tanneries who use Litehide raw material. Leather produced using Litehide has undergone resource-efficient raw materials processing that significantly reduces water consumption, wastewater pollution, CO2 emissions, and waste. Additionally, 90% of our leather is currently sourced from responsible tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group.
Learn More →
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Castor Oil-based Material
Castor oil is an ideal alternative to petroleum-based chemicals because it’s renewable and biodegradable. This bio-based raw material comes from the seeds of a Ricinus communis plant, which are harvested by farmers predominantly in India, China and Brazil. We are progressively using a bio-material with 45% castor oil content in a number of our watch models replacing the use of fossil-fuel-based virgin plastic.
“We are on a journey to design and produce 100% of our products to meet our pro-planet criteria by 2025. This commitment begins with the way we approach product design so every thing we create has sustainability at the forefront. This approach to design is and will continue to be an integral part of the way we work at every level. Our hope is that our customers look to us as forward thinking when it comes to designing with purpose.”
Steve Evans,
E.V.P., Owned Brands
But in order for raw hides to become leather, they must be processed which requires significant natural resources and chemicals. The tanning phase of the leather supply chain remains a hotspot area for the leather industry and an area that the industry needs to continuously reduce its impacts.
We have therefore chosen to align with tanneries that are certified to the Leather Working Group (LWG). Over 90% of our leather comes from LWG-certified tanneries which means these tanneries are audited and mandated to have high levels of environmental management practices in order to receive this certification.
We have also invested in using another form of leather processing (Litehide) to reduce our impacts across the leather supply chain. The use of Litehide leather significantly reduces the consumption of water, wastewater pollution and transportation emissions.
But in order for raw hides to become leather, they must be processed which requires significant natural resources and chemicals. The tanning phase of the leather supply chain remains a hotspot area for the leather industry and an area that the industry needs to continuously reduce its impacts.
We have therefore chosen to align with tanneries that are certified to the Leather Working Group (LWG). Over 90% of our leather comes from LWG-certified tanneries which means these tanneries are audited and mandated to have high levels of environmental management practices in order to receive this certification.
We have also invested in using another form of leather processing (Litehide) to reduce our impacts across the leather supply chain. The use of Litehide leather significantly reduces the consumption of water, wastewater pollution and transportation emissions.
At Fossil Group, our Research & Development team is spearheading the exploration of more sustainable materials and keeping abreast of emerging technologies. We’re currently experimenting with plant-based materials such as cactus, mulberry, and apple skin leather alternatives, renewable materials, lower impact jewelry components, bio-based and ocean-bound plastic. Not everything we try works for our products, but we’re committed to sharing our journey as we work towards our goal of designing the world’s most sustainable watches and accessories.
At Fossil Group, our Research & Development team is spearheading the exploration of more sustainable materials and keeping abreast of emerging technologies. We’re currently experimenting with plant-based materials such as cactus, mulberry, and apple skin leather alternatives, renewable materials, lower impact jewelry components, bio-based and ocean-bound plastic. Not everything we try works for our products, but we’re committed to sharing our journey as we work towards our goal of designing the world’s most sustainable watches and accessories.
This commitment aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We’re taking action to lead the industry in pro-planet innovation to help revitalize our natural world.
