Eco-Friendly Running Watches
How to choose the most environmentally-friendly wrist tech
Image: Metha275, Adobe Stock
If you’re an eco-conscious runner, you likely try to make the most environmentally-friendly choices possible when replenishing your running kit. Have you considered how your running watch stacks up in terms of sustainability? Is it even possible to find an eco-friendly running watch, you might ask?
What Makes a Running Watch Sustainable?
Before considering the sustainability of specific watch brands, there are a few overarching things to consider when it comes to the environmental impact of a running watch.
Mining: Electronics, such as running watches, are made from minerals that are mined from the earth. There are numerous environmental concerns about mineral mining; some of these include water pollution, emissions, and hazardous chemical release, which impact the health of ecosystems, wildlife, and humans. A sustainable running watch is built from responsibly-mined minerals that are recycled back into the system at the end of the watch’s life. This is likely the most challenging piece for companies to monitor.
Production and Shipping: A primary environmental concern about hardware is factory and shipping emissions. A sustainable running watch is built in a facility that runs on renewable energy.
Packaging : Plastic is a material made from petroleum that is polluting our oceans at an alarming rate. This material is used ubiquitously for packaging materials. An eco-conscious running watch is packaged in recycled, recyclable and/or biodegradable materials.
Durability and End-of-Life Recycling: According to researchers, 40 million metric tons of e-waste are produced globally each year; this waste accounts for approximately 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills. These toxic metals can contribute to dangerous air pollution and water contamination. A sustainable running watch is one that can be used for a long time and then recycled responsibly at the end of its lifecycle.
Which Running Watches Are Sustainable?
Suunto Sustainability
Suunto, a Finnish company, has set a few important sustainability goals and seems to be on a good track for achieving them. In 2021, they released a detailed sustainability report, outlining key initiatives such as reducing emissions and managing waste. From 2009 to 2020, Suunto’s overall emissions decreased steadily and substantially, and they offer repair services and refurbished options to help avoid e-waste. The report also outlines what steps they are taking to better manage mining concerns.
Apple Watch Ultra Sustainability
The new Apple Watch Ultra comes with a sustainability stat sheet that is pretty impressive. The report details sustainability metrics along the entire Apple Watch Ultra supply chain, from sourcing minerals (they use 100 percent recycled in many cases) to supplier energy use (suppliers are transitioning to renewable energy, which of course, isn’t a detailed or perfect report of energy use, but it is addressed), better packaging (98 percent of their packaging is fiber-based, and they say they are phasing out plastic), and offer an end of life option with Apple Trade In. While some of these sustainability metrics are still in process, and Apple does have a reputation for encouraging the purchase of their latest and greatest, diminishing their standing on a durability front. The detailed report is a plus and does contain excellent indicators of a sustainable product.
Garmin Sustainability
Garmin participates in some activities that are considered to be environmentally friendly. They are certified in the international standard ISO 14001, meaning that they at least have an audit-able structure to work towards environmental goals. Garmin is also moving away from plastic packaging and offers recycling for their watches at the end of life. According to Garmin, they recycled more than 300 metric tons of e-waste in 2021. Their 2021 sustainability report outlines some good renewable energy and waste management initiatives.
Coros Sustainability
Coros’s sustainability web page outlines a 20-day period in which ten percent of proceeds are donated to organizations doing work that benefits the planet, such as Protect Our Winters and the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation. They also mention building for durability and encourage recycling their watches at the end of lifecycle but do not provide the service. While we 1000% support donating to reputable non-profit organizations that are driving the mission to save the planet, it is safe to say that Coros falls short on transparency around sustainability initiatives.
No matter which running watch you choose, one of the top things you can do to make your running watch choice a sustainable one is to buy a watch that will last you a long time. Responsible consumption can help mitigate hazards, emissions, and waste along every step of your watch’s life.
