Breitling

Since its acquisition by CVC in 2017, watchmaker Breitling has been a sector leader and innovator on sustainability and the environment. Breitling works in close collaboration with suppliers to ensure precious materials used in its products are responsibly sourced and has undertaken partnerships with external organisations including NGOs to recycle environmentally damaging plastic waste such as fishing nets into watch straps.

Sustainable supply chains

Furthermore, its recently introduced packaging, made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, that has been awarded the 'Efficient Solution Label' from the Solar Impulse Foundation.

• With the support of CVC, Breitling has also conducted a baseline assessment of its direct emissions across its production sites and offices, in addition to its indirect emissions resulting from purchased goods and materials, and from logistics and travel.
• Since 2020, Breitling offsets in full its direct emissions and a portion of its indirect emissions resulting from logistics and travel.
• In cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Institute Coalition on Materials Emissions Transparency, Breitling is conducting the industry’s first product environmental footprint assessment, measuring the environmental impact of each of the over 300 components in its bestselling Navitimer B01 Chrono 46.
• Breitling has also developed a Supplier Code of Conduct to encourage suppliers to think about their own ESG governance and risk management and will invite its suppliers to complete an annual EcoVadis sustainability assessment.
• Across headquarter operations, Breitling purchases 100% of its electricity from renewable sources and its decarbonisation programme will be a strategic priority for management and CVC in 2021 and beyond.

Since acquisition, CVC has closely supported Breitling on its ESG plans. This includes working with the Board and sustainability lead as well as leveraging external initiatives to enhance Breitling's approach to ESG. Breitling has also worked to improve its reporting and disclosure and has started its own annual EcoVadis sustainability assessment and, with CVC's support, completed an industry leading baseline assessment of its full scope value chain emissions. This has helped inform Breitling's forthcoming carbon reduction targets and supplier engagement.

Recognising the value of Breitling's experience, CVC invited a representative from the company to talk about its sustainability roadmap during CVC's annual ESG conference. The event provides CVC's portfolio companies with a forum to share learnings and best practice on sustainability topics.