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Special report - ESG issues: key strategic pillars of private equity
December 2023

With the support of Fund manager CVC, Breitling has adopted a robust and sustainable ESG strategy

Published on
30/10/2023
Amended on
7/5/2026
0
minute(s)
Odyssey 2023
A Breitling watch
CVC Capital Partners, a $160 billion European asset manager, invests in companies in Europe and North America, including watchmaking pioneer Breitling. With a strong ESG focus, Breitling has implemented sustainable practices such as recycled packaging and CO2 offsetting.
By
Damien Hélène
Damien Hélène
With the support of Fund manager CVC, Breitling has adopted a robust and sustainable ESG strategy
This article has been automatically translated. Please excuse any inaccuracies or translation errors.
Dieser Artikel wurde automatisch übersetzt. Bitte entschuldigen Sie etwaige Ungenauigkeiten oder Übersetzungsfehler.
This article has been automatically translated. We apologize per inaccuracies or translation errors.

CVC Partners is a Fund manager specializing in financing mid- to large-sized companies and was selected for the Vintage Altaroc Odyssey .

With over $160 billion under management and 350 employees, CVC invests mainly in companies based in Europe and North America.

With a strong focus on ESG, the Fund manager the companies in its portfolio meet the most stringent criteria in terms of ESG strategies (Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria). This is particularly true of Breitling.

Since its acquisition by CVC in 2017, Breitling has strengthened its position as a leading player in the watchmaking sector, and a pioneer in sustainable development and the environment. In fact, Breitling fully involves its suppliers in its approach to responsible sourcing of the precious materials used in its products. Similarly, the Group has joined forces with external organizations, notably NGOs, to recycle polluting plastic waste, such as fishing nets, for use in watch straps.

Sustainable supply chains

Breitling also recently introduced packaging made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, earning it the "Efficient Solution" label from the Solar Impulse Foundation.

  • With the support of CVC, Breitling has also carried out an assessment of direct emissions from its various production sites and offices, in order to create a benchmark ecological profile, as well as indirect emissions resulting from the purchase of products and raw materials, its supply chain and employee travel.
  • Since 2020, Breitling has been offsetting all its direct emissions and part of the indirect emissions resulting from its supply chain and business travel.
  • In cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Institute's Coalition on Materials Emissions Transparency (COMET), Breitling has undertaken to assess the environmental footprint of each of the 300-plus components of its flagship product, the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 46, a first in the watchmaking sector.
  • Breitling has also drawn up a Code of Conduct for its suppliers to encourage them to reflect on their own governance and ESG risk management. The company will invite suppliers to carry out an annual EcoVadis assessment (unicorn featured on the Vintage Altaroc Odyssey 2021) of their sustainability performance.
  • For all activities at Breitling headquarters, 100% of electricity is purchased from renewable sources. Similarly, its decarbonization program has been a strategic priority for the management team and CVC since 2021.

Since its acquisition, CVC has actively supported Breitling's Board of Directors and Head of Sustainable Development in the implementation of the company's ESG program, in particular by leveraging various external initiatives to support its ESG approach. Breitling has also undertaken its own annual EcoVadis assessment of its sustainability performance, with a view to improving its communication in this area. Likewise, taking a pioneering role in the industry with the support of CVC, the company has set up a benchmark ecological profile assessing its emissions across its entire value chain, enabling it to gather the data needed to set itsCO2 emissions reduction targets and define the level of commitment required from its suppliers.

Breitling's experience led CVC to invite a representative of the company to present its sustainability roadmap at its annual ESG conference. This event provides CVC portfolio companies with a forum to share lessons learned and best practices on sustainability issues.

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