In 2006, SEIKO led the industry in achieving compliance with all its quartz watch production. As of August 2008, this compliance extends to all models, of all movement types, in all brands.
The EU Directive restricts the use of hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment and, in particular, required watch makers to eliminate the use of 6 environmentally sensitive substances: lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and two flame retardants, PBB and PBDE**.
While many watch companies are still not able to comply and were obliged to seek exemptions from the Directive, SEIKO achieved full compliance in its Spring Drive, Kinetic and quartz watches in 2006. While there is no legal requirement to do so, SEIKO has now succeeded in eliminating all hazardous materials from its mechanical watches and all casing and bracelet components.
* RoHS: Restriction on Hazardous Substances
** PBB: PolyBrominated Biphenyl, PBDE: PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ether
SEIKO’s industry-leading green technologies
SEIKO has always sought to develop cutting-edge ’green’ watch making technologies and, with Spring Drive and Kinetic, both of which are exclusive to SEIKO, has succeeded in fusing together high accuracy timekeeping and low environmental impact. Both derive their energy from the natural power of the wearer’s motion.
Environmentally-sensitive manufacturing
SEIKO ensures that every component is made to the highest standards of environmental responsibility. SEIKO’s watch manufacturing facilities achieved CFC*** elimination in 1993, and are ISO 14001 accredited and keep on conforming to and exceed the standards set in the EU, WEEE****, Nickel and battery directives.
*** CFC: ChloroFluoroCarbon
**** WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
Mercury–free batteries
SEIKO has introduced mercury-free batteries since April last year, and June 2008 achieved the commitment that all SEIKO watches would be installed on a production basis. It is the first company to eliminate the use of mercury from watch batteries.
SEIKO and the Environment: the story so far
SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION has always been dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact of its activities and products and to improving the global environment:
- Since 1969, SEIKO has reduced the power requirement of its quartz watches by 70%.
- In 1993, SEIKO led the industry by eliminating CFC from its manufacturing processes.
- In 1988, SEIKO introduced Kinetic, the only watch in the world to generate electricity by its wearer’s movement.
- In 1999, SEIKO introduced Spring Drive, a ’green’ technology that delivers accuracy of 1 second a day, but has no battery.
- Since 2000, SEIKO has annually published an “Environmental Report“ (currently “CSR Report”).
- Since 2001, All SEIKO’s watch production facilities have ISO 14001 certification.- In 2006, SEIKO achieved compliance with the RoHS Directive.
- SEIKO complies with all EU environmental Directives and regulations, including the RoHS, Nickel, Battery and WEEE Directives.
- In June 2008, SEIKO became the first in the industry to produce all quartz watches with mercury-free button batteries installed.
- In August 2008, all SEIKO watches, even mechanicals, and all bracelet parts became RoHS compliant.
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