At IWC Schaffhausen we take pride in the technical innovation we bring to our products, and we like to share those advancements with you. Whether it is a new material, a technique for increased precision, or first to market functionality, we always strive to develop the very best.

The Portuguese Sidérale, IWC’s most complicated mechanical watch ever produced

It is in this vein that we also search for ways to apply advanced technologies in other areas of our business. Starting in 2009 IWC has partnered with The Climate Group, a leading advocacy organization for the reduction of carbon emissions at both the corporate and governmental level. Our association came about because The Climate Group looks to identify leaders in the field of emission reduction, and it had been two years prior (in 2007) that the IWC Schaffhausen facility became carbon neutral.

IWC’s expanded production facilities

Since 2007 all of the company’s electricity has been covered by hydroelectric power, and CO2 emissions were reduced by over 90% between 2003 and 2009 (to 13 tons). No small feat for a site that grew by 8000 square meters during this time.

Founded in 2004, the Climate Group works with companies and governments that are low carbon leaders, and shows them new platforms for reduction and efficiencies of their output. The organization believes that by partnering with leaders in this area is the way forward. “The world is at a tipping point, emissions must decrease by two-thirds by 2050 whilst protecting and encouraging economic growth.”

The Climate Group’s “The Clean Revolution” program

Up next for The Climate Group is their program The Clean Revolution, a movement intended as “a swift and massive scaling-up of clean energy technologies and infrastructure” and “a change in design and behaviour to improve efficiency and use of our natural resources”. The Clean Revolution will launch in June at the Rio+20 Earth Summit.

Just as we always search for new ways to advance our handcrafted timepieces, we continue to look for tools to reduce our footprint on the environment and we support The Climate Group in advocating that others do the same.