ENGAGING OUR EMPLOYEES

Our mission has been to preserve, pass on and promote exceptional craftsmanship since 1980, when our Maison created the first luxury jewelry training department. This initiative was soon followed by a specialized watchmaking training department. Every year, we train around 40 apprentices in jewelry, watchmaking, micromechanics and surface treatments. Our training policy also involves transmission of savoir-faire as knowledge is shared between different generations in our teams.

Transforming our Maison to meet the social and ecological challenges facing society and our industry is a team effort. To this end, we have launched several programs:

• During working hours, all employees must complete our "Together for Sustainable Luxury" e-learning training program. This covers RJC standards, human rights, health and safety in the workplace, safety, low-carbon transition, SBTi, circular economy, diversity and inclusion, and prevention of harassment in the workplace. The AXA Climate School platform is also available to all employees who wish to further their knowledge of environmental issues;
• We organize working groups and regular conferences on a range of subjects tailored to our various departments (e.g. organization of quarterly seminars on responsible purchasing and co-construction of the responsible sourcing policy with the sustainability department);
• We encourage best practice at our manufacturing sites and head office, particularly in the area of soft mobility (the Bike to Work initiative and the installation of bicycle shelters) and electric vehicles, with the installation of electric charging stations;
• Our commitment to raising awareness among our stakeholders is also demonstrated by our external actions (e.g. regular conferences and panels at industry events such as Watches & Wonders).

We recruit people based on their skills and experience. Our flat hierarchy and management structure means there are many opportunities to move around our business. We also continue to work towards maintaining and improving our gender balance across all levels.

These commitments are set out in more detail in our Diversity and Inclusion policy.

We define ethical gold as gold acquired from responsible sources, verified as having met international best practice environmental and social standards. Since July 2018, our workshops have used 100% ethical gold sourced from two transparent supply chains:

• Artisanal gold accredited by Swiss Better Gold (SBG): an initiative aimed at improving miners’ living and working conditions while implementing more environmentally respectful extraction practices. Chopard teams also visit mining sites every two years.
• Gold certified by the RJC Chain of Custody, purchased from RJC-certified refineries that ensure source legitimacy through a due diligence process.

Since 2019, we have strengthened our collaboration with Swiss Better Gold (SBG). A Chopard representative now sits on the Board of Directors.

One initiative with SBG that showcases our commitment is our work with the Barequeros gold panners of El Chocó, Colombia, a local initiative to improve the working conditions of more than 900 miners. This program ensures the Barequeros receive a fair income, and in addition, a premium on each gram of gold sold, and benefit from training on topics such as gender equality, health, and safety.

While launching our iconic Alpine Eagle luxury watch collection in 2019, we introduced the Lucent Steel™: an exclusive steel with advanced properties, made with a recycling rate of at least 80%. This initiative marked the beginning of our multi-year project focused on more responsible steel. In 2023, we extended the use of Lucent Steel™ to all Chopard steel watches – including bracelets and cases.

This circular process reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact in terms of reduced transportation and the higher rate of recyclable content in the product. According to key figures from the ISSF (International Stainless Steel Forum), shifting from standard 50% recycled steel content to 80% will cut emissions linked to production by 30%. With 90% recycled steel, this reduction will increase to 40%.

Lucent Steel™ is made using high-quality scraps from the watchmaking industry, along with high-grade steel from the medical, aerospace and automotive industries. All steel is sourced within 1000km of Chopard’s manufacturing unit. We also recycle our own steel scraps each year, further supporting our commitment to circularity.