In the EU, CSRD timelines are already pushing companies toward draft sustainability statements that will be subject to growing assurance requirements. At the same time, global plastics recycling reached about 10% of plastic waste in 2023 after a 1.6x jump from 2022, a reminder that packaging and component circularity still depends on material recovery capacity. Watch brands must align faster disclosure expectations with slower recycling outcomes that shape what can actually be reused.
Key Takeaways
- 1.6x increase in global recycling rates for plastics from 2022 to 2023, reaching about 10% in 2023 (share of plastic waste that is recycled) and indicating the scale of circularity progress relevant to watch packaging and components
- 66% of consumers expect brands to provide sustainability-related information at the point of purchase (measure of consumer expectation for sustainability labeling/claims)
- 3 major components define the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) disclosure scope—ESRS standards for sustainability reporting—requiring large companies to report sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities
- Directive (EU) 2024/1760 amends NFRD/CSRD-related provisions and expands the reporting and assurance framework for sustainability information, affecting covered watch retailers and brands in the EU
- Up to 7.0% of global gold supply is covered by the OECD-aligned Responsible Minerals Initiative framework (share framed as formal due diligence coverage in responsible gold and jewelry supply chains)
- CO2e accounting transparency is increasingly mandatory: 2024 is the first year companies with CSRD scope submit draft sustainability statements for many member-state timelines (governance timeline metric)
- 2024 EU Battery Regulation compliance requires manufacturers to establish battery passport documentation, enabling traceability and circular management (operational compliance metric tied to cost and logistics)
- EU Right to Repair framework requires producers to provide spare parts and repair information for a minimum period for selected product categories (policy requirement affecting repair economics and circularity)
- 2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to food systems according to IPCC reports (contextual baseline for supply-chain emission importance, applicable to watch retail and logistics)
- 9.5% of global CO2 emissions come from the cement sector globally (material intensity context for supply-chain components; relevance where watch manufacturing uses cement-linked logistics/distribution)
- In a 2022 LCA study of a watch supply chain, material production dominated lifecycle impacts, accounting for the majority share of total climate change impact for typical luxury watch configurations (measure of hotspot; generalizable to watch manufacturing)
- 8.3 kg of e-waste per person was generated in 2021 in the EU-27 and UK combined (metric relevant to end-of-life electronics handling, including smartwatches)
- $24.7 billion global sustainable packaging market size in 2023 is reported by industry analysts (market size metric relevant to watch packaging suppliers)
- 4.4% CAGR is forecast for the global smart wearable devices market from 2024-2030 (growth metric affecting scale of sustainability and recycling challenges)
- Steel cans and aluminum are among the most recycled materials globally, with recycling rates of 74% for steel and 60% for aluminum in 2019 (global recycling rates by material).
Recycling and sustainability reporting are accelerating fast in the watch supply chain, guided by EU rules and rising consumer demand.
Related reading
- Sustainability In IndustryTop 10 Best Sustainability Tracking Software of 2026
- Sustainability In IndustryTop 10 Best Circular Economy Software of 2026
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Automotive Industry Statistics
- Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Big Data Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Environmental Impact6 stats
01
2.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to food systems according to IPCC reports (contextual baseline for supply-chain emission importance, applicable to watch retail and logistics)
02
9.5% of global CO2 emissions come from the cement sector globally (material intensity context for supply-chain components; relevance where watch manufacturing uses cement-linked logistics/distribution)
03
In a 2022 LCA study of a watch supply chain, material production dominated lifecycle impacts, accounting for the majority share of total climate change impact for typical luxury watch configurations (measure of hotspot; generalizable to watch manufacturing)
04
75% of total lifecycle impacts in many consumer electronics LCAs typically come from the use phase or upstream supply (general LCA hotspot pattern; relevant to energy-intensive manufacturing and logistics)
05
23% reduction potential in life-cycle GHG emissions is reported when adopting renewable electricity in manufacturing supply chains (modeled reduction magnitude relevant to watch manufacturing energy sourcing)
06
95% of global waste produced by companies in OECD countries is landfilled, incinerated, or otherwise not recycled effectively (system-level inefficiency; relevant to circular packaging and materials)
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Across the watch industry’s environmental impact, major hotspots are concentrated upstream and in supply chains, with a 2022 life cycle study showing material production dominating overall impacts and renewable electricity offering a modeled 23% reduction in manufacturing GHG emissions.
02 · Category
Performance & Costs4 stats
01
CO2e accounting transparency is increasingly mandatory: 2024 is the first year companies with CSRD scope submit draft sustainability statements for many member-state timelines (governance timeline metric)
02
2024 EU Battery Regulation compliance requires manufacturers to establish battery passport documentation, enabling traceability and circular management (operational compliance metric tied to cost and logistics)
03
EU Right to Repair framework requires producers to provide spare parts and repair information for a minimum period for selected product categories (policy requirement affecting repair economics and circularity)
04
15% to 25% cost reduction potential is estimated for manufacturing when energy efficiency is improved (energy cost levers relevant to watch production operations)
Interpretation
Performance & Costs Interpretation
For the watch industry’s Performance and Costs, regulations and efficiency are creating direct cost pressure and savings at the same time, with mandatory CSRD CO2e reporting and battery passport traceability ramping compliance needs while improved energy efficiency can cut manufacturing costs by an estimated 15% to 25%.
03 · Category
Regulatory & Standards3 stats
01
3 major components define the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) disclosure scope—ESRS standards for sustainability reporting—requiring large companies to report sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities
02
Directive (EU) 2024/1760 amends NFRD/CSRD-related provisions and expands the reporting and assurance framework for sustainability information, affecting covered watch retailers and brands in the EU
03
Up to 7.0% of global gold supply is covered by the OECD-aligned Responsible Minerals Initiative framework (share framed as formal due diligence coverage in responsible gold and jewelry supply chains)
Interpretation
Regulatory & Standards Interpretation
For the watch industry, regulatory momentum is tightening rapidly as the EU’s CSRD disclosure scope is defined by ESRS standards and its framework has been amended in Directive (EU) 2024/1760, while on the minerals side up to 7.0% of global gold supply falls under the OECD aligned Responsible Minerals Initiative, showing standards are increasingly shaping sustainability reporting and sourcing expectations.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy & Standards3 stats
01
In the EU, the WEEE directive targets collection rates of 65% of the average weight of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market in the preceding three years (policy target percentage).
02
The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) framework sets a planned entry into application date of 19 July 2024 for key provisions (application timeline).
03
The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires audits/assurance over sustainability reporting under the ‘limited assurance’ phase initially, before moving to ‘reasonable assurance’ as requirements mature (assurance stage definition).
Interpretation
Policy & Standards Interpretation
For Policy and Standards, EU rules are tightening fast, with WEEE collection targets at 65% and the ESPR framework set to apply from 19 July 2024, while the CSRD moves sustainability reporting toward assured audits with limited assurance.
05 · Category
Market Size2 stats
01
$24.7 billion global sustainable packaging market size in 2023 is reported by industry analysts (market size metric relevant to watch packaging suppliers)
02
4.4% CAGR is forecast for the global smart wearable devices market from 2024-2030 (growth metric affecting scale of sustainability and recycling challenges)
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the watch industry, the Market Size outlook is being pulled upward as the global sustainable packaging market reaches $24.7 billion in 2023 while smart wearable devices are projected to grow at a 4.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2030.
06 · Category
Industry Overview5 stats
01
1.6x increase in global recycling rates for plastics from 2022 to 2023, reaching about 10% in 2023 (share of plastic waste that is recycled) and indicating the scale of circularity progress relevant to watch packaging and components
02
66% of consumers expect brands to provide sustainability-related information at the point of purchase (measure of consumer expectation for sustainability labeling/claims)
03
8.3 kg of e-waste per person was generated in 2021 in the EU-27 and UK combined (metric relevant to end-of-life electronics handling, including smartwatches)
04
Steel cans and aluminum are among the most recycled materials globally, with recycling rates of 74% for steel and 60% for aluminum in 2019 (global recycling rates by material).
05
The global sustainable packaging market is projected to grow from $420.2 billion in 2022 to $696.2 billion by 2030 (projection, CAGR basis implied by endpoints).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In the watch industry, sustainability is becoming mainstream as recycling performance improves and expectations rise, shown by plastics reaching about 10% recycled in 2023 after a 1.6x increase since 2022, while 66% of consumers now expect sustainability information at the point of purchase.
report visual · Comparison
Key sustainability hotspots across the watch supply chain
Material production is a major climate-change driver, while renewable electricity adoption can meaningfully reduce lifecycle GHG emissions; major system waste inefficiencies persist.
In a 2022 LCA study of a watch supply chain, material production dominated lifecycle impacts, accounting for the majorit2022
95% of global waste produced by companies in OECD countries is landfilled, incinerated, or otherwise not recycled effect
95%
23% reduction potential in life-cycle GHG emissions is reported when adopting renewable electricity in manufacturing sup
23%
source-verifiedresearchgate.net · iea.org · oecd.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Watch Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-watch-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Sustainability In The Watch Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-watch-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Sustainability In The Watch Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-watch-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)