When it comes to the origins of our creations, we aim to be as transparent as possible and to ensure that our high-quality materials are responsibly sourced.
RECYCLED STEEL
By the end of 2023, Chopard will use Lucent Steel™ for the production of all its steel watches – including bracelets and cases.
Lucent Steel™
Chopard’s quest for sustainability is in no way detrimental to the exceptional quality or properties of the materials composing its timepieces. Chopard Lucent Steel™ is made using high-quality industrial scraps from Swiss watchmakers, along with high-grade steel from the medical, aerospace and automotive industries.
Anti-allergenic.
50% more resistant to abrasion than conventional steel.
homogeneous crystal microstructure.
Four years of research and development.
This initiative will allow Chopard to significantly reduce its CO2 emissions related to steel, 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%. At 90% recycled steel this figure increases to 40%.
Chopard Lucent Steel™
Chopard’s quest for sustainability is in no way detrimental to the exceptional quality or properties of the materials composing its timepieces. Chopard Lucent Steel™ is made using high-quality industrial scraps from Swiss watchmakers, along with high-grade steel from the medical, aerospace and automotive industries.
A Local, Circular Manufacturing Loop
Lucent Steel™ stems from Chopard’s creation of a local, circular manufacturing loop. All Chopard suppliers for recycled steel are based within 1000km of its manufacturing unit, either in Switzerland or its neighbouring countries of Austria, France, Germany and Italy, reducing the need for transportation emissions.
In addition, the scraps resulting from Chopard’s manufacturing process are collected and recycled into new high-quality steel by its suppliers. This circular process limits the extraction of raw materials without compromising the quality integral to all the Maison’s activities.
Anti-allergenic
50% more resistant to abrasion than conventional steel
Homogeneous crystal microstructure
Four years of research and development
Joining Climate Group’S Steelzero
To endorse its commitment, Chopard has become the first luxury Maison to join Climate Group’s SteelZero initiative in order to work with the industry to speed up the transition to a net zero steel.
SteelZero members use their collective purchasing power and influence to send a strong demand signal to shift global markets and policies towards responsible production and sourcing of steel.
Ethical Gold
Gold is the raw material most widely used in our production. It is due to this that we devoted particular attention to ensuring that one of the biggest milestones of our Journey to Sustainable Luxury would be the sourcing of responsibly mined gold for our entire watch and jewelry production.
This objective has been successfully met since July 2018 when Chopard began using 100% Ethically produced gold - verified as having met international best practice environmental and social standards - in its workshops.More specifically, our Ethical Gold is sourced through two transparent and traceable schemes: - Artisanal freshly mined gold produced in a responsible manner- Chain of Custody Gold from RJC-Certified refineries
Responsible Artisanal Mined Gold
Rjc-Certified Refineries
Responsible Artisanal Mined Gold
Artisanal and small-scale mining involves millions of men and women worldwide, working on an individual basis, in family groups or cooperatives, using relatively simple methods of exploration, extraction and processing. Responsibly extracted gold from artisanal and small-scale mines is essential to our sourcing strategy, as it allows us to have full traceability from mine to market, while contributing to a positive socio-economic and environmental impact.The Swiss Better Gold Association, a not-for-profit initiative created by Swiss players, from refiners to retailers in the gold supply chain, aims at creating a simple market-driven mechanism that enables formalized gold miners to adopt more socially inclusive and better environmental practices. Some 6,200 miners, both men and women, have benefited from the Swiss Better Gold Association, by complying with Swiss Better Gold Association criteria or its certification systems. In addition, 31,000 people have been helped indirectly thanks to improvements in the incomes of mining families and their communities*.Ahead of our commitment to achieving 100% Ethical Gold, our Maison joined the Swiss Better Gold Association as early as 2017 and has been represented on the Board of Directors since 2020. (*Source: Report from Mine to Market – A Value Chain of Responsible Gold, SECO and the Swiss Better Gold Association 2017-2021, p.10).
Responsible Artisanal Mined Gold
The artisanal and small-scale gold we purchase is sourced from mines located in Peru and Colombia, all participating either in the Swiss Better Gold initiative or in Fairtrade certification schemes.
The Swiss Better Gold Association, a not-for-profit initiative created by Swiss players, from refiners to retailers in the gold supply chain, aims at creating a simple market-driven mechanism that enables formalised gold miners to adopt more socially inclusive and better environmental practices. Some 6,200 miners, both men and women, have benefited from the Swiss Better Gold Association, by complying with Swiss Better Gold Association criteria or its certification systems. In addition, 31,000 people have been helped indirectly thanks to improvements in the incomes of mining families and their communities*.
Barequeros
A unique fully-traceable sourcing initiative from responsible artisanal Gold Panners. Since 2019, Chopard has been involved in a challenging project to support artisanal communities supplying gold from the “Barequeros”, artisanal gold miners from El Chocó in Colombia. This exciting and rewarding pilot initiative has built a fully-traceable and responsible international supply chain as well as improving the livelihoods of more than 800 independent individual miners.
The Barequeros have received support from an on-the-ground expert team to attain Swiss Better Gold criteria of socially and environmentally responsible mining practices. The programme ensures that the miners receive not only a competitive price but also a special Incentive of 0.70 USD per gram for them to reinvest in improving their living and working conditions. Also, barred until recently from the financial system, the Barequeros have succeeded in opening bank accounts.
"The people extracting the gold essential to the making of our creations seemed too often forgotten. It is therefore essential to promote sustainability principles in the luxury industry by focusing on defending these communities. The El Chocó initiative is in line with this project and Chopard is proud to be associated with the Barequeros and the other partners involved.”
Caroline Scheufele
Rjc-Certified Refineries
As early as 1978, we were one of the first manufacturers to equip ourselves with our own foundry. Thanks to this independent approach, we are not only able to guarantee the origin of the gold we use in our production, but are above all able to directly resmelt gold scraps and production waste in order to recycle our unused material.
Encouraged by this approach to recycling our gold scraps, we created our second Ethical Gold supply chain by purchasing gold through RJC Chain of Custody (CoC)-certified refineries.
The RJC CoC Standard sets out requirements for the identification and tracking of ‘Eligible Material’, such as recycled gold screened and confirmed as originating from eligible recyclable sources.
Diamonds
The diamond sector has undergone significant transformations over the past 15 years. Today, the Kimberley Process has been successful in virtually eliminating conflict diamonds from the market. It now embodies the most successful international consensus agreement in terms of regulating diamond mining. In the same vein, the Responsible Jewellery Council has provided effective standards and codes of practice for the industry to self-regulate.
At Chopard, we support and follow the principles for transparency stipulated by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the World Diamond Council System of Warranties. We have also put in place a self-regulation initiative for all diamond suppliers, requiring them to refrain from buying or selling conflict diamonds, diamonds from suspect or unknown sources, as well as diamonds from countries and regions that have not implemented the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Stones not complying with this scheme are immediately refused.
Coloured Gemstones
Unlike diamonds, colored stones were not subject to any international regulations to guarantee their traceability and mining conditions. Since 2019, the Responsible Jewellery Council has included colored gemstones in its certification scope.
Responsible and transparent
At Chopard we continually strive to increase the overall sustainability performance of our collections while working closely with our sourcing partners to ensure the greatest possible transparency with regard to the provenance of coloured gemstones.
Well aware of the numerous challenges associated with the responsible sourcing of coloured gemstones, we joined the Coloured Gemstones Working Group (CGWG) in 2019, a unique alliance between the world's leading luxury jewellery brands and gemstone mining companies that intends to improve and make corporate sustainability accessible to all in the gemstone industry. The main goal is to provide relevant and appropriate educational, training and management resources as well as expert support to enable any business in the coloured gemstone supply chain to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development and participate in a responsible and transparent industry.
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