The environment

For Rolex, reducing the impact of its business is a priority.

With this in mind, the brand invests to sustainably control its consumption of resources. It has established various performance indicators to measure its overall carbon footprint and, for its industrial activities in Switzerland, control its waste production and environmental impact. Committed to a continuous improvement process, the brand has set greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets and will now prioritize the analysis of impacts upstream of its supply chain.

Our strategic commitments

Prioritize the analysis of the environmental impacts arising from raw-material extraction.
Implement company-wide initiatives to achieve the SBTi targets:
 — Reduce absolute emissions of scopes 1 and 2 by 42% by 2030 (vs 2021)
— Reduce absolute emissions of scope 3 by 25% by 2030 (vs 2021)
Reduce the consumption and emissions associated with the brand’s industrial and commercial activities.
Offset the residual impact of Rolex’s activities by supporting high-quality projects.

Climate change

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Industrial production plays an important role in the rise in the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. Rolex has been instigating measures for several years to limit its emissions and plans to step up its efforts by implementing a climate strategy.

In line with the Paris Agreement, the brand has set targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. For the past 20 years, the brand has also been committed to implementing energy efficiency solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of its industrial facilities and equipment. Every transformation, like every acquisition, is thus carefully considered from this perspective.

Addressing this challenge means making structural changes within the company, in terms of its processes and policies. This includes the systematization of existing best practices, particularly in terms of production and, more broadly, waste management or soft mobility. The brand has trained its managers in these areas and actively involves its employees in them on a daily basis.
 

Carbon footprint and emissions monitoring

Committed to reducing its environmental impact, Rolex conducted its first carbon footprint assessment in 2019. Since then, the company has annually measured the CO2 emissions generated by its activities. However, the scope of the calculation is broader than what is presented in this report, as the carbon footprint includes not only Swiss entities – Rolex SA, Manufacture des Montres Rolex SA, Roldeco SA and companies affiliated to the Rolex group – but also its foreign service and distribution affiliates.

In 2023, Rolex’s total carbon footprint was 1,996 kt CO2 equivalents (CO2e), 99% of which was attributed to scope 3, due in particular to the procurement of precious materials (gold, platinum, palladium and silver).

 
Rolex’s total footprint decreased by 37% between 2022 and 2023 mainly due to decisions related to gold procurement (responsible for 31% of this reduction). This is the result of various initiatives, such as replacing part of the volume of mined gold purchased by residual gold, changing the range of mines towards less emissive sources and, finally, reducing the total volume of gold purchased.

This standardized diagram shows Rolex’s carbon footprint categorized into three scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from energy use), and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from upstream and downstream activities). Scope 1 includes emissions from Rolex's own facilities and company vehicles. Scope 2 covers energy consumption, while Scope 3 represents the vast majority of emissions resulting from the procurement of goods and services, transportation, and the end-of-life processing of products. The diagram uses international GHG Protocol standards, providing a clear structure for managing and reducing emissions across the supply chain​​.
Scope of Rolex’s carbon footprint, illustrating direct and indirect emissions in accordance with the GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Protocol.

Rolex GHG emissions (in kT CO2e)

This table presents Rolex's greenhouse gas emissions in kilotons of CO₂ equivalent (kT CO₂ eq) from 2021 to 2023, categorized into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, which remained relatively stable over the three years, with emissions of 12 kT CO₂ eq in both 2021 and 2022, decreasing slightly to 10 kT CO₂ eq in 2023. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from purchased electricity, which also decreased slightly from 12 kT CO₂ eq in 2021 to 10 kT CO₂ eq in 2023. Scope 3, which encompasses all other indirect emissions such as those from the supply chain, accounted for the vast majority of Rolex’s total emissions. Scope 3 emissions were 3,207 kT CO₂ eq in 2021, 3,128 kT CO₂ eq in 2022, and significantly dropped to 1,976 kT CO₂ eq in 2023. A large proportion of Scope 3 emissions is tied to the use of precious materials, which represented 91.7% of total emissions in 2021 (2,963 kT CO₂ eq), 89.7% in 2022 (2,824 kT CO₂ eq), and 88% in 2023 (1,752 kT CO₂ eq). Emissions excluding precious materials accounted for 7.5% of total emissions in 2021, rising to 11% in 2023. Overall, Rolex successfully reduced its total greenhouse gas emissions from 3,231 kT CO₂ eq in 2021 to 1,996 kT CO₂ eq in 2023. The most significant reductions occurred within Scope 3, particularly in emissions associated with precious materials, underscoring Rolex’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact as part of its broader sustainability initiatives.
Rolex’s greenhouse gas emissions (in kt CO₂e) from 2021 to 2023, including breakdown per Scope and the contribution of precious materials.

Scope 1
Most direct emissions come from production sites located in Switzerland. These are primarily generated by natural gas consumption and represent 0.5% of the brand’s total carbon footprint, i.e. 10 kt CO2e.

Scope 2
Emissions related to energy consumption affect both Swiss sites and foreign affiliates and make up 0.5% of the brand’s 2023 carbon footprint, i.e. 10 kt CO2e. The affiliates make a major contribution to the result (78% compared with 22% for the Swiss industrial facilities), as their energy mix is mainly derived from non-renewable sources. Efforts will therefore be made to reduce the share of fossil fuels in the medium term.

Scope 3
Precious materials account for 88% of Rolex’s 2023 footprint. The impact of mined gold is the most significant (89.5%), followed by platinum (8.1%), precious stones (1.3%) and palladium (1%). The rest of the precious materials (residual industrial silver and gold) contribute less to the footprint (0.1%). This result is therefore encouraging the brand to focus its efforts on mined gold and platinum.

In addition, despite their significant environmental impact as reflected by their emissions factor, precious stones are purchased in very small quantities and therefore do not contribute significantly to Rolex’s total carbon footprint. However, the brand remains extremely vigilant regarding their traceability.

Data quality
Rolex’s carbon footprint provides an annual appraisal of the brand’s greenhouse gas emissions. Results vary from year to year but confirm general trends over the past three years.

Mindful that the accuracy of the results of such an assessment must be based on detailed data, framework hypotheses and internal environmental analyses, Rolex has been committed to a continuous improvement process in this area since 2019.

Although uncertainties inherent to data, hypotheses or methodological changes inevitably remain, the creation of the footprint allows Rolex to focus on its most important emission categories, thus making it possible to prioritize reduction initiatives. Rolex therefore sees its footprint as a continuous improvement and strategic management tool.

A significant effort has been made internally in data collection to improve the confidence score of the results for the 2023 footprint.

The following points support the results obtained:
— Rolex follows best practices in carbon footprinting and reporting in accordance with the GHG Protocol. All categories applicable to the brand were included in the calculation of its latest footprint.
— The majority of data provided for Swiss sites is primary data. An internal results review and approval process has been in place since 2022.
The sources – such as the ‘ecoinvent 3.9’ database and Rolex’s primary data – are robust and recognized.

Climate policy and the Science-Based Targets initiative

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a standardized method that encourages private companies to set credible CO2 reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement to keep the global rise in temperature below 2° C, or even below 1.5° C, compared to pre-industrial temperatures. It was launched in 2015 by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

In order to further implement its commitments to combat climate change, Rolex submitted its greenhouse gas reduction targets to the SBTi in December 2023, which subsequently approved them. Rolex group company TUDOR was also involved in this process.

The absolute emission reduction targets for 2030, compared to 2021, are as follows:

- 42%

Scopes 1 and 2
 

- 25%

Scope 3

In total, across all scopes, Rolex will achieve a 25% reduction in its absolute emissions by 2030, compared to 2021.

To achieve these goals by 2030, a climate road map is being created. This road map encompasses responsibly procuring raw materials, reducing the share of mined gold, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables, purchasing efficient machinery and optimizing transport, mobility and packaging.

This graphic presents Rolex and TUDOR’s targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The emissions are measured in kilotons of CO₂ equivalent (kt CO₂ eq) for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, with a reference year of 2021. In 2023, the total emissions were reduced to 2,076 kt CO₂ eq, a notable decrease from 3,298 kt CO₂ eq in 2021. The chart distinguishes between Scope 1 and 2 emissions (which are direct and energy-related, respectively) and Scope 3 emissions (which include indirect sources like the supply chain). Rolex’s reduction efforts from 2022 to 2023 primarily result from decisions regarding gold procurement, including purchasing residual gold and sourcing from less emissive mines. By 2030, Rolex and TUDOR aim to achieve a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 25% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, contributing significantly to their sustainability strategy.
Rolex and TUDOR’s Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, focusing on significant reductions in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Energy efficiency

Responsible consumption

Although Rolex’s energy consumption has a minor impact on its carbon footprint, the company is improving its efficiency in this area every year. To do this, Rolex promotes responsible consumption in all its workshops and optimizes the performance of the production resources that consume the most energy. It is continuing and intensifying its efficiency efforts wherever possible, both at production sites and in administrative buildings.

Buildings

The buildings at the Geneva sites (located near residential areas) and the Bienne site (situated in an industrial area far from the city centre) comply with different energy constraints and regulations. This may mean, for example, that certain heat production systems may or may not be installed in the administrative and industrial buildings.

Energy
From the early 2000s, the company decided to permanently stop using fuel oil to meet its heating needs. Today, Rolex’s energy strategy is based on two key areas, fully aligned with the targets published by the Swiss Federal Energy Office:
— Developing alternatives to fossil fuels (including natural gas) by 2030 as far as possible;
— Guaranteeing that every kilowatt-hour distributed and consumed is used efficiently.

Plan-les-Ouates

Heat pumps
Heat pump technology, which was non-existent just a few years ago, is now used in nearly all the buildings in Geneva. These pumps are enabling a gradual shift away from fossil fuels without requiring significant additional electricity: they replace existing cooling units and recover heat generated by production that previously dissipated into the atmosphere. In the context of new builds on suitably prepared plots, the company connects heat pumps to geothermal probes to further enhance their energy performance. This is the case for the upcoming building in Chêne-Bourg, as well as the Les Petits Chronos company crèche, which is Minergie-ECO-certified and located in Geneva’s Pont-Rouge district. Technical spaces have also been reserved to eventually be able to connect new heat pumps to a remote heat exchanger network, depending on the opportunities that arise.

Coolants
Older-generation coolants have a severe impact on the environment, particularly the ozone layer, if they leak into the atmosphere. For several years, Rolex has met and exceeded legal requirements by systematically replacing equipment containing coolants with new- generation machines running on refrigerants that have a lower environmental impact. In time, all the cooling systems used in cafeterias and cold rooms will be equipped with machines that run on CO2. This new equipment also makes it possible to produce most of the company’s domestic hot water without using fossil fuels.

Natural gas
Natural gas, which pollutes less and emits less CO2 than fuel oil, is still widely used at Rolex’s industrial sites in Switzerland. A transition energy by definition, this energy carrier must gradually be replaced by more sustainable solutions. However, residual energy consumption (the minimum amount of energy consumed permanently by a building) will persist in the oldest buildings during periods of extremely cold weather. Nonetheless, all gas supplied by Services Industriels de Genève is offset in terms of CO2 using quality certificates controlled by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS).

Focus

Energy monitoring of buildings in Switzerland

The monitoring of building installations (heating, cooling, ventilation, etc.) makes it possible to collect data about a site’s energy consumption. Once analysed, the data allows an action plan to be put in place. In Bienne, the action plan aims to halve the amount of energy required to heat 1 m2 within 10 years. In concrete terms, these results are achieved by linking networks as closely as possible, optimizing building regulations and systematically replacing ageing equipment.

In Geneva, thanks to monitoring and the implementation of a continuous improvement process in the production workshops, the gains achieved this year are around 1,818 MWh in Plan-les-Ouates and Chêne-Bourg (which, in total, is the equivalent to the energy consumption of more than 600 households in Geneva). This result illustrates the collective ownership of the topics and the maturity of the process within production. Continuing this momentum, the same tools and approach are scheduled to be rolled out at the Acacias site in 2024.

Pellets
In Bienne, pellet boilers have replaced all gas boilers to reduce the use of fossil fuels. Today, almost all the buildings are equipped with them. However, some gas boilers have been kept to serve as emergency units. As part of this change, Rolex’s ambition is to guarantee a supply of local pellets, derived from the natural renewal of Swiss forests and unused forest residue. Rolex currently uses around 1,000 tonnes of wood per year across its entire Bienne site, sourced from forests in the Jura and Fribourg cantons.

Biogas
Since 2022, in partnership with the city of Bienne, all the biogas consumed by the production site is generated by local wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Electricity
In Switzerland, Rolex favours electricity produced by hydroelectric power plants to ensure it consumes as much decarbonized electricity as possible. The company has also installed solar panels at all its sites.

10,687 m2

Total solar-panel surface area deployed at Rolex sites
 

1,455 MWh

Annual electricity production
 

134,214 MWh

Annual electricity consumption
 

Certifications
Since 2021, Rolex has been working on the environmental certification of its buildings. These efforts will continue in relation to transformation or renovation projects and during the construction of new buildings. In this context, several buildings have already obtained the Minergie label. In 2023, the Acacias site in Geneva obtained the BREEAM In-use label, which is issued to buildings already in use. The Chêne-Bourg and Plan-les-Ouates sites will follow in 2024. The future Rolex site in Bulle scheduled for 2029 is aiming to achieve BREEAM’s outstanding certification, making it the first Swiss industrial building of this scale to receive the distinction. In Bienne, almost all the buildings are Minergie-certified. These buildings are also aiming to obtain BREEAM In-use certification by 2024.

Digital sobriety
When it comes to information systems, Rolex has put in place a sustainable approach supported by a managerial structure and resources dedicated to reducing environmental impact. The brand has thus created reference databases to address corporate social responsibility-related decision-making, reporting and analysis topics, and the provision of management tools in line with the company’s sustainability goals. Rolex raises awareness and trains all its employees on the challenges of using digital technology responsibly. The company has also incorporated specific criteria for its procurement, and measured the environmental footprint of its IT equipment in order to initiate actions for improvement.

Consumption targets have been defined as part of the restructuring of Rolex’s data centres, including reduced floor use (–50%), optimized server use, and a raised temperature threshold of spaces (from 18° C to 25° C) to secure an energy gain of 30%. The new or renovated data centres will all be operational by the end of 2025 in Geneva and the end of 2026 in Bienne.

Industrial facilities

Limiting the impact of production

By revising the buildings’ technical installations and optimizing their regulation, Rolex has made significant progress in terms of energy efficiency. The brand has carried out two major campaigns to optimize production equipment, either by integrating eco-design in the acquisition of new equipment, or by modifying existing equipment to make it more energy efficient. This approach is now systematized within the company and broken down into different processes.

Equipment optimization

As part of the plan to renew industrial facilities and boost production capacities, equipment optimization consists of investing in new-generation production methods to reduce the environmental impact of the company’s activities. In partnership with suppliers based in Switzerland, a new machining tool has been developed based on ambitious reduction targets, such as electricity consumption, the quantity of oil used, the mass of the machine or the floor area it occupies.

Intended for machining bracelet link elements, this new tool adopts a tried-and-tested concept, optimizing it further in terms of productivity (+20%), power consumption (–25%), useful oil volume (–50%) and floor space (–40%). With regard to electricity consumption, the projected gain for the industrial facilities in 2026 is estimated at 100 MWh per year. The first machine is in the assembly and fine-tuning phase, with delivery scheduled for mid-2024.

Sustainable production methods

The way in which production methods are designed is significant in determining how they affect the environment. The specifications behind their manufacture are therefore crucial in achieving significant improvements. Rolex now considers the acquisition of new industrial equipment through a sustainable lens throughout its entire life cycle, from its creation, through its use and maintenance, to its recyclability.

In 2021, the brand launched a comprehensive strategy to this effect that aims to add the ‘environmental impact’ component to the acquisition process. It also offers specific training for those in charge of renewing production resources. This is an important paradigm shift, because purchasing criteria were hitherto based solely on quality, timescale, cost and performance considerations.

Micro-milling machine

Focus

A new micro-milling concept

An innovative micro-milling concept designed for machining dial plates and created as part of the EcoSwissMade programme from the Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES-SO) University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, targets reductions in electricity consumption (–80%), useful oil volume (–95%) and floor space (–65%). In terms of electricity consumption, the reduction across the industrial facilities is estimated at 170 MWh per year. The first tests carried out in 2023 confirmed the concept’s potential and its industrial development is continuing in 2024.

Transport and mobility

Optimizing vehicles and business travel

As an important link in Rolex’s logistics system, the transportation of goods and merchandise – between production sites, suppliers, affiliates and retailers – represents a significant part of the company’s overall carbon footprint. In this area, air transport holds a prominent place in the company’s reduction road map. Several projects are targeting this reduction, such as the regional production of sales and marketing accessories, as well as printed materials or the use of sea, road or rail transport whenever possible. Finally, a special effort has been made to reduce the weight of transportation packaging in order to minimize its impact on transport-related greenhouse gas emissions.

At the same time, Rolex has begun to transform its vehicle fleet to reduce its emissions as much as possible in Switzerland: of the 75 vehicles currently owned by the company, 19 of the 35 passenger vehicles (Passenger vehicles are used by employees to travel between sites or to other destinations within their region as part of their work, when public transport is not compatible with their requirements.) and 6 of the 30 small vans are electric (Small vans and heavy goods vehicles are used for the daily transportation of goods.). Of the 7 heavy goods vehicles owned by the company, 3 of them now run on gas. To date, the company has also installed 48 electric-car charging stations in its various car parks in Switzerland. Electric bicycles are also available at each site.

It should be noted that the travel regulations defined by the company for business trips incorporate sustainable development principles. The Travel Department responsible for organizing this type of travel ensures that it offers the most environmentally friendly transport options possible.

As part of its commercial activities, Rolex uses private aviation. The brand’s international presence as well as the growth and management of its business activities require such travel. Rolex fully offsets the CO2 emissions generated by this type of travel through the purchase of certified carbon credits.

Mobility plan

Rolex has undertaken to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from commuter journeys by implementing a mobility plan. Launched in 2021, this plan initially consisted of an offer focused exclusively on soft mobility and public transport (contribution to train season tickets, free local public transport, subsidies for the purchase of a bicycle).

In 2022, the introduction of a paid parking system for solo drivers led to a sharp increase in the uptake of public transport and soft mobility options. This measure also encouraged carpooling by offering preferential conditions.

This graphic compares the mobility options selected by Rolex employees in 2021 and 2023. The data, calculated based on the number of employees, shows a significant shift towards more sustainable transport methods. In 2021, 66% of employees drove alone, while in 2023, this number decreased to 40%. Meanwhile, the use of soft mobility options (public transport, walking, cycling) increased from 24% in 2021 to 44% in 2023. Carpooling and motorcycle/scooter usage also rose slightly, from 6% to 7% and 4% to 9%, respectively. This shift reflects Rolex's efforts to encourage more sustainable commuting practices among its workforce, reducing its overall environmental footprint.
Distribution of mobility options chosen by Rolex employees in 2021 and 2023, with a marked increase in the use of soft mobility and public transport.

Before the mobility plan was rolled out, private cars were the main mode of travel with more than 3,100 people having access to a car parking space. The mobility plan has therefore significantly reduced the share of solo drivers: –37% between 2021 and 2023.

Travel related to soft mobility (public transport, bicycle, by foot) has more than doubled in two years, from 24% to 44%. This trend prompted the company to create 290 additional parking spaces for bicycles and 80 for scooters at the Geneva sites.

Promoting cycling

Focus

Promoting cycling in Geneva and Bienne

To encourage the uptake of soft mobility options among its employees, Rolex has been offering an incentive of CHF 0.30 per kilometre commuted to work from home by bike since October 2023. Capped at CHF 1,200/year, this scheme complements the current mobility plan but does not include travel between sites.

A day was also organized in June 2023 inviting employees (around 1,200) to cycle to the company’s various sites along a marked route.

The ‘bike to work’ initiative attracted 320 participants in Geneva and 136 in Bienne in 2023.

As at 31 July 2024, 1,541 company employees travelled by bike. In total, Rolex employees in Geneva and Bienne have already travelled 1,264,353 kilometres by bike following the implementation of soft mobility initiatives.

Water management

Preserving water resources at every level

Water management at the various Rolex sites in Switzerland is well managed.

Neither the canton of Geneva nor the region of Bienne are considered to be water-stressed areas. Despite its good record, the brand is seeking to improve its performance in water management by implementing consumption reduction, treatment and discharge measures.

To reduce its water consumption, Rolex has implemented several successful initiatives, such as setting up closed-loop systems and installing devices for water metering and leak detection. The company has also undertaken to redevelop its green spaces with hardy species that require less water.

These efforts combined have saved more than 100,000 m3 of water per year over the last 10 years in Geneva. This work will continue, as Rolex plans to further reduce its water consumption by 5% by 2027 and 10% by 2030.

In Switzerland, Rolex is subject to the Federal Waters Protection Ordinance (WPO) of 28 October 1998. All water is collected separately. Water that does not comply with discharge standards (heavy metals, hydrocarbons and other pollutants) is pretreated at internal treatment plants in order to meet the relevant legal requirements.

In Geneva, the environmental impact of sewage discharge is very low due to the highly effective pre-treatment system put in place for water potentially containing metals or hydrocarbons. In 2023, nearly 11,000 m3 of water (21,000 m3 in Bienne) – used either in a process or for floor cleaning – was pretreated at five internal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) before being discharged.

All water discharged as wastewater is then subsequently treated at cantonal WWTPs and released into local river systems. This decontaminated water is thus returned to the catchment area from which it was initially drawn. Discharges from any new activity or process are systematically analysed. In this context, no non-compliances were recorded in 2023.

In 2023, state-run inspections of Rolex’s Swiss sites ensured the compliance of discharged water. It should be noted that the brand has established its own monitoring measures to analyse the metal content of discharged water.

473,730 m3

Annual volume of water withdrawn

Mindful that the topic of water management lies further upstream in its supply chain, Rolex will launch a ‘water footprint’ in 2024 to assess the risks and identify improvement measures in this area.

Protecting biodiversity

Making progress to save the natural world

Situated in urban and industrial areas, the production sites are not located near protected areas. Nor do they affect the habitats of endangered species. As they do not emit non-compliant effluents or fumes, their impact on the natural environment is low. In this context, the implementation of regular checks makes it possible to respond quickly in the event of non-compliance.

In 2023, Rolex signed the Geneva Garden Charter. It has launched several initiatives to enhance its sites’ green spaces and protect indigenous fauna and flora. It has reduced mineral surfaces, turned intensive areas into extensive areas, created wetlands, replaced lawns with flower meadows and native hedges, and introduced nesting boxes and hives.

For several decades, the brand has also carried out impact studies when planning any new builds. This is the case, in particular, for the brand’s future site in Bulle, which will cover nearly 200,000 m2. The project provides exemplary measures to compensate for the impacts of construction on the current environment. The development of planted drainage channels (Drainage channels are shallow ditches designed to concentrate and transport run-off water while removing debris and pollution. These biological channels can also be used to replenish groundwater.) will, for example, help to reinforce biological continuums, and a wide variety of structures that promote biodiversity will also be deployed as part of these efforts.

3.7 hectares

Planted surface area across the Geneva sites

Biodiversity

Focus

Biodiversity

Most of Rolex’s impact on biodiversity is indirect, as it is concentrated upstream of its activities in Switzerland. The brand will now measure this impact across its value chain. This work will begin shortly with the analysis of data regarding the gold mines in its supply chain.

Biodiversity has always been an important topic for the brand, which has been funding projects related to the protection of fauna and flora as part of its Perpetual Planet Initiative for many years. In 2023, for example, it supported conservation projects in Côte d’Ivoire and northern China, as well as reforestation initiatives along the Andes Mountains.

Air pollution

Respecting standards

On this specific topic, Rolex’s impact in Switzerland is mainly due to emissions from gas boilers (NOx) and pellet boilers (fine particles, PAHs) whose emissions are controlled in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Ordinance on Air Pollution Control (OAPC) of 6 December 1985. In this context, checks are regularly carried out and no cases of non-compliance have been recorded.

Rolex has a special facility designed to burn waste containing precious material to enable its recovery. This furnace is equipped with a fume treatment system and measuring devices that continuously monitor certain emissions. Here too, the emissions measured during official checks comply with regulations.

The industrial sites use many products that generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In 2023, VOC consumption was 164 tonnes and diffuse emissions amounted to 70 tonnes. Rolex strives to limit these emissions by implementing activated carbon treatment systems and modernizing its equipment. The company is committed to reducing its VOC emissions by 25% by 2027 and 50% by 2030.

Rolex also refrains from using any ozone-depleting substance according to the Federal Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem) of 18 May 2005.

Anti-pollution machines

Waste

Controlling flows

In Switzerland, Rolex monitors its waste monthly (weighing before collection and checking the weight according to suppliers’ invoices). It maintains a register that allows precise tracing and monitoring of each type of waste, to the nearest kilogram.

The brand also ensures that its suppliers comply with Swiss waste management legislation, notably the following two ordinances: the Ordinance on the Avoidance and Disposal of Waste and the Ordinance on the Movement of Waste.

Non-hazardous industrial waste

Non-hazardous industrial waste includes all non-inert and non-hazardous mixed waste produced by an industrial activity.

2,250 tonnes

Non-hazardous industrial waste
 

864 tonnes

Production waste
 

876 tonnes

Production waste

Production waste

This waste largely consists of two materials: 904L steel and brass, both of which are fully recycled.

Special waste

Waste is classified as ‘special’ when it requires special treatment to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Due to its composition, physico-chemical or biological properties, it requires a set of specific technical and organizational measures. All special waste is processed in Switzerland in accordance with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.

Plastics and PET

Several years ago, Rolex launched an extensive programme to eliminate plastic cups and bottles at all its sites in Switzerland. Today, introducing these various solutions has enabled the brand to roll back its annual PET consumption by five million cups and 160,000 bottles.

This chart illustrates the total waste generated by Rolex in 2023, amounting to 3,990 tons. The waste is categorized into three main types: industrial waste, which constitutes the largest portion at 56%, production waste accounting for 22%, and special waste also contributing 22%. These figures reflect Rolex’s focus on waste management within its industrial processes, highlighting the importance of addressing both production-related and special waste alongside industrial waste. Managing and reducing these waste streams is a critical part of Rolex's environmental sustainability efforts.
Waste generated by Rolex in 2023 broken down into industrial, production, and special waste categories.
This chart provides a detailed breakdown of how the 3,990 tons of waste generated by Rolex in 2023 were treated. The majority, 53%, was recycled, reflecting Rolex's commitment to sustainable waste management practices. Additionally, 29% of the waste was incinerated, 8% was recovered through various processes, and 4% was sent to landfill. Another 6% underwent chemical or other specialized treatments. These waste management strategies align with Rolex's broader environmental goals of reducing its ecological footprint through increased recycling and recovery efforts.
Treatment of the 3,990 tonnes of waste generated by Rolex in 2023, with over half being recycled.

Packaging

Rolex strives to integrate eco-design into its processes. Training and tools are thus provided to help teams assimilate new working methods. The aim is to reduce environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of packaging, whether used in production, transportation, storage or shipping.

In 2022, this approach resulted in the introduction of new packaging for sending watches to affiliates and retailers. As part of this project, PETG plastic has been replaced by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) cardboard. This decision meant that the production and shipping of 70 tonnes of PETG was averted in 2023. A second step, involving an insert made from an ecological cellulose-based material, is currently under review. This material has passed the first in-house laboratory tests. An industrial phase is now underway to ensure it can perform the required functions, including safeguarding the integrity of our various watch models throughout the shipping process.

The same approach has been used for sending spare parts abroad. The PETG boxes used for this shipment will be gradually replaced by FSC cardboard boxes from 2024. A second phase of the project will consist of redesigning the blister packs used to package parts following eco-design principles. From 2025, Rolex intends to reduce its use of plastic for this type of packaging by almost 25 tonnes.

Focus

Transport and storage of dials

The packaging used to store, protect and transport Rolex watch dials between the different production sites represents an annual consumption of 20 tonnes of polypropylene and produces 59 tonnes of CO2 emissions. After use, Rolex grinds this packaging down and sends it back to a wholesaler for recovery within a recycling channel.

To further improve control of its end-of-life use, two complementary projects are being studied: one for packaging reuse and one for reusing the material internally. This should reduce its impact tenfold.

Transport of dial

Sustainable development

2023 Sustainability report