Closing The Loop

From funding research and supporting conservation to the integration of responsible and circular practices into business models, these are the latest initiatives, big and small, shining the way forward in a revolution that is picking up momentum in the luxury watch industry to positively impact the society, environment and economy.

- TAN SIOK HOON

CONSERVATION AND RESCUE

With reports that millions of tonnes of plastic are dumped into the seas every year, the call to protect our oceans cannot be more urgent in the bid to save the planet. In fact, the UN Environment Programme warns that there will be more plastic than fish by weight in our seas by 2050 if the trend continues unchecked. The dire situation has compelled watch brands such as Blancpain and Omega to respond to the cause via the Blancpain Ocean Commitment initiative and the latter’s Planet Ocean project.

In partnership with Nekton established in 2015, Omega has pledged to make time for the planet by supporting the not-for-profit research foundation which is committed to explore, protect and manage the world’s oceans via collaborating with the University of Oxford. Beginning with the “First Descent” series to explore and conserve the Indian Ocean that began in 2019, the vital work is in progress—underscored by the belief that a healthy planet is dependent on a healthy ocean. With each mission, Nekton brings together state-of-the-art technology to find out how and why the ocean is changing, coupled with inspirational public engagement.

“Our friends at Nekton are protecting the ocean with the global goal of 30% protection by 2030. As a pioneering brand with a long history of pushing at the boundaries of what is possible, we have the utmost respect for this bold, confident vision and we’re thrilled to help make the goal a reality,” says Omega president and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann.