Accelerating Decarbonisation in the Watch & Jewellery World

Jewellery Pursuer
Sep 6
3 min read

Jewellery has always been about more than adornment. It’s one of the oldest forms of human expression—a 150,000-year-old string of shell beads found in Morocco proves that. Long before the first written words, people were already decorating themselves with symbols of identity, love, and status.

Fast-forward to today, and the materials have changed—diamonds, gold, platinum, silver—but the essence is the same. What has changed is the scale. The Industrial Revolution and globalisation gave rise to the modern jewellery and watch industry as we know it: bigger, faster, more luxurious. But with that expansion came something else—carbon emissions and environmental pressures that now demand urgent action.

This is where the new report comes in. Prepared in collaboration with the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Carbon Trust, and with ISEAL funding, it serves as a strategic guide for companies at every stage of their climate journey. The focus is especially on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up the majority of our industry and often face the toughest challenges when it comes to decarbonisation

Why This Matters Now

Our industry is more deeply connected to the Earth than most. Half of the world’s annual gold production—around 2,000 tonnes—is crafted into jewellery and watches. Yet only a quarter of that gold is recycled. Diamonds and precious metals, once symbols of eternity, are finite resources that took millions of years to form.

And the numbers don’t lie: around 70% of our sector’s carbon footprint comes from Scope 3 emissions—the invisible impact of our global supply chains. Add to that new regulations like the EU’s CSRD and CSDDD, plus the fact that 70% of U.S. consumers say ethics guide their jewellery purchases, and the writing is on the wall: change isn’t optional. It’s essential.

A Roadmap for Change

The report doesn’t just sound the alarm—it lays out a roadmap. And the good news is that opportunities for positive impact are everywhere.

At the corporate level: companies need to start with the basics—measuring their carbon footprint, setting science-based targets, and embedding climate KPIs into performance reviews. This isn’t just about PR; it’s about governance and accountability.

Across supply chains: because that’s where the bulk of emissions sit. Brands can create supplier training programmes, reward sustainable procurement, and partner with financiers to make green investments more accessible for smaller players. Imagine a world where every tier of the jewellery supply chain, from mines to ateliers, is working from the same playbook.

In product and design: the sector has a natural advantage—jewellery is rarely thrown away. Pieces are gifted, resold, or inherited. That longevity is priceless, but brands can go further with buy-back schemes, repair programmes, modular designs, and greater use of recycled metals (even from e-waste). Circularity isn’t a buzzword here—it’s a business opportunity.

With consumers: transparency is everything. From carbon labelling on products to storytelling that shows real progress (not greenwashing), brands can empower buyers to make informed choices. The shift is already happening—luxury is being redefined as sustainable luxury.

At the sector level: no company can do this alone. Industry bodies and associations must push for standardised reporting, digital carbon tracking tools, and collaborative frameworks that help SMEs, not just big names, move forward together.

The Future of Luxury

The conclusion is clear: the watch and jewellery industry is standing at a crossroads. One path leads to business as usual—an unsustainable future where regulation, consumer pressure, and resource scarcity will catch up with us. The other path requires leadership, creativity, and collaboration.

Choosing sustainability doesn’t mean losing luxury. Quite the opposite. It means redefining it. A ring made with recycled gold, a watch built to last and repair, or a brand that tells its climate story honestly carries even greater value.