BREITLING RELEASES ITS ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY MISSION REPORT HIGHLIGHTING PIONEERING TRANSPARENCY IN SUSTAINABILITY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE COMPANY’S 140TH YEAR

Breitling’s 2024 Sustainability Mission Report comes as the Swiss luxury watchmaker marks 140 years. In its fourth annual report, which proactively meets industry-leading sustain­ability and corporate transparency benchmarks, Breitling continues its commit­ment to meaningful transparency. Its report follows the guidance of the era-defining European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and encompasses the full scope of its social and environmental impact along its supply chain and its engagement with local communities. 

The report highlights the personal stories of individuals involved in Breitling’s sustainability journey. Additionally, it tells the story of the company’s approach to shared prosperity, from the communities of source-material suppliers to Breitling’s customers.

This year, Breitling continued to transform key supply chains to align with the company’s sustainability strategy, making strong progress toward industry-leading traceability targets. The company also continued its mission of stakeholder engagement, which included the launch of the report on the occasion of Climate Week NYC at an intimate event hosted at its
Madison Avenue flagship boutique.

Breitling CEO Georges Kern said sustainability is an essential part of Breitling’s unique brand positioning. “Breitling is a leader in the neo-luxury sector that is casual, inclusive, and sustainable. It’s essential to have everyone engaged, from our source-material suppliers to our customers, as we continue to refine our sustainability strategy.”

Breitling’s Chief Sustainability Officer Aurelia Figueroa adds, “The transition from commodity-based to community-based supply chains has been fundamental to our efforts. We have engaged the communities where we are present and worked together to create programs to support the common good.”

PROSPERITY: TAKING LOCAL ACTIONS ON A GLOBAL SCALE

Over 30% of Breitling’s collections containing gold and diamonds are now traceable to the source and adhere to its Origins label criteria, meaning producers are selected for their responsibility toward their employees, local communities, and the environment. Gold is sourced from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations, where rigorous workplace criteria, community involvement, and environmental protections are in place. Diamonds are lab-grown and sourced from certified suppliers to ensure that they are free of association with conflict, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation. Suppliers are regularly audited on-site by both Breitling and third parties.

Breitling places a voluntary premium on each gram of gold and each carat of diamonds sourced to fund projects designed by and with local communities. Through the Better Gold Fund, Breitling has contributed over 60,000 hours of tailor-made educational opportunities to date for underserved communities in cooperation with the Swiss Better Gold Association.

In January 2024, the company welcomed the inaugural class of 15 social impact leaders to the Better Diamond Fund education program in the state of Gujarat in western India, where all its lab-grown diamonds are grown, cut, and polished. This community-designed initiative is conducted in partnership with Amani Institute, a recognized global nonprofit organization providing high-quality leadership education. Through all of its investments in social and environmental actions, Breitling has contributed 1.7 m CHF this year globally.

PLANET: EARLY INDUSTRY LEADER ON THE ENVIRONMENT, EXCEEDING ­PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION TARGETS

Breitling is committed to addressing its environmental impact across climate, biodiversity,
and water.

In December 2023, Breitling had its full-scope greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Aligned to the most rigorous Corporate Net-Zero Standard,
the targets are the most ambitious in the industry. Building on this achievement, in early 2024, Breitling became one of eight early adopters in Switzerland and one of only three in the luxury goods industry to commit to reporting in line with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), issuing its first report this year.

Within its own operations, Breitling has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21.6% since 2022, primarily through the increased purchase of renewable energy. Across its supply chain, Breitling cofinances environmental impact reduction projects at key suppliers.

Earlier this year, Breitling announced a first-of-its-kind, 12-year partnership with Climeworks, investing in its carbon removal service to filter CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it perma­nently underground.

Breitling has made strong progress toward eliminating plastic waste, removing or recycling 4 tons in the last fiscal year across its operations by engaging both employees and suppliers. Breitling employees were also involved in cleaning up plastic litter on beaches and in urban areas across markets where Breitling operates worldwide.

PEOPLE: ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY ON SUSTAINABILITY, RANKED BEST EMPLOYER IN SWITZERLAND

This year, Breitling expanded its efforts to engage employees in sustainable practices by taking an in-depth look at production facilities at the company’s watchmaking facility, the
Breitling Chronometrie, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, which employs over 200 people. Discussions on topics ranging from waste reduction to educational programs are ongoing and will result in tailored sustainability approaches.

The strength of Breitling’s corporate governance culture is acknowledged with achievements like the Universal Fair Pay Analyst award, granted by the Berlin-based Fair Pay Innovation Lab. The company was also named the #1 Best Employer in Switzerland in 2024 by Swiss business newspaper Handelszeitung and Swiss magazine PME in cooperation with Statista, a global data and business intelligence platform.

GOVERNANCE: EXECUTIVE ENGAGEMENT

Breitling has worked in recent years to develop the most forward-looking and industry-leading approaches to sustainability. Senior management leads these efforts, an important indicator of the high priority Breitling places on reducing its environmental impact.

The development and implementation of Breitling’s sustainability strategy continues to evolve to meet and exceed key targets. Together with stakeholders at all levels, Breitling looks forward to delivering meaningful impact for local communities and the environment in the places the company operates.