April 22nd is Earth Day, marked out in calendar’s globally as a time to celebrate and honour our extraordinary planet. Earth Day serves as a reminder to us all of the positive impact we can have when we come together to protect and nurture our planet, for the good of the Earth today and also for generations to come.
Here at WatchGecko we’ve been proudly Carbon Neutral since 2019. We’ve committed to reducing our impact on the planet by switching to 100% renewable energy sources and we’re also working with One Tribe. This means every transaction made through our websites contributes to the protection of 100 square metres of rainforest, or 5 trees. This way we can play our part in protecting trees both in the rainforest and closer to home to help fight climate change and protect the natural world for future generations.
But what else can watch-lovers do this Earth Day to protect our environment? It turns out, there’s plenty. Many of us are already being mindful watch custodians, likely without even giving it much thought. In a culture of fast, throw-away fashion where products are quickly churned out and discarded, we see the watches in our collections as an investment to cherish and maintain. We can also make greener choices when shopping for watches and replacement straps, either by purchasing with carbon neutral businesses like WatchGecko or choosing products that are made from sustainable materials.
Laverton Padded Alcantara Handmade Watch Strap on Christopher Ward. Credit: WatchGecko.
Last week we gave you an overview of our Laverton Padded Alcantara strap collection, a great option for those looking for a vegan alternative to straps made from traditional animal leathers. The Laverton Vegan straps are made with a luxuriously soft synthetic textile material and a unique cork lining, but they aren’t our only eco-friendly options.
SEAQUAL® Upcycled Fabric ZULUDIVER Watch Strap
SEAQUAL® Upcycled Fabric ZULUDIVER Watch Strap on Omega Speedmaster. Credit: WatchGecko.
For those of you looking for a more affordable (yet still environmentally sustainable) option, the SEAQUAL strap could be the perfect match.
This ZULUDIVER strap is crafted from a responsibly manufactured woven fabric, namely SEAQUAL, which is made entirely from upcycled marine plastic found on the ocean floor and surface. The lining material has also been made from apple skins and core waste recovered from the food industry, making the SEAQUAL strap a great choice for the environmentally conscious. The SEAQUAL strap is incorporated with quick-release spring bars so it couldn’t be simpler to make a simple change for the good of the planet.
ZULUDIVER Mayday Sailcloth Divers Watch Strap
ZULUDIVER Mayday Collection on Tudor. Credit: WatchGecko.
For those who tend to live life on the go, our ZULUDIVER Mayday Collection is the perfect go anywhere do anything option, and it’s even lined with Lorica, a vegan and eco-friendly synthetic material. The Navigator, Regatta and Anchor variations of this strap each benefit from use of Lorica, which is not only an environmentally friendly alternative to more traditional watch strap linings, but is also hypoallergenic, breathable, and lightweight. Waterproof and equipped with quick-release spring bars, the ZULUDIVER Mayday range is the perfect companion for life on the go.
Sustainable Leather Strap Options:
If you’ve read one of our Strap Showcases or scrolled through our catalogue of high-quality strap replacement options, you’re likely to be familiar with the Highley and Simple Handmade ranges. As some of the most popular leather strap options in our collection, the Highley and Simple Handmade collections have become staples of our brand and have now evolved into various editions to meet customer needs.
Vintage Highley Italian Vegan Leather Watch Strap
Original Vintage Highley Genuine Leather Watch Strap on Omega Speedmaster. Credit: WatchGecko.
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Our popular Highley Collection now comes in three variations: Original, Classic and Flat. Each varies by thickness and has varying levels of padding, so you can change up your look to perfectly align with the proportions of the watch you’d like to wear.
Simple Handmade Italian Leather Watch Strap
Simple Handmade Italian Leather Watch Strap on Laco. Credit: WatchGecko.
The Simple Handmade range has also been extended to include the Original, a Classic option with reduced padding, as well as Distressed and Perforated designs for a more unique final look. There’s another good reason for the popularity of these straps though, they’re meticulously handcrafted with sustainable leathers.
Each strap in the Highley and Simple Handmade collections is made from premium quality Italian vegetable-tanned, full-grain leather. The leathers are produced by a member of the esteemed Consorzio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata Al Vegetale, a consortium of Tuscan tanneries who exclusively use natural plant-derived tannins and centuries-old techniques to creature quality controlled sustainable leathers. You can read more about these certified responsible Italian tanneries here.
So, whilst I'm sure we don't need Earth Day to remind us we haven't necessarily been good custodians to our planet, it still serves as a vital call to arms for collective action. It's important to recognise that the small changes we can all make are impactful and it's not yet too late to start.
