Tom Ford's Sustainable Piece 'Ocean Plastic Sport' | TOM FORD

TOM FORD

Upcycled Ocean Plastic. A Watch That Removes the Equivalent of 35 Plastic Bottles Per Piece.

Tom Ford has released the new 'Ocean Plastic Sport Timepiece.' This new timepiece expresses the brand's commitment to improving the marine environment, utilizing upcycled ocean plastic for the case, strap, and even the storage box.

Text by Sayaka Ozaki

A Luxury Sports Watch Contributing to Marine Environmental Improvement

First introduced in 2020, Tom Ford's 'Ocean Plastic Timepiece' was the first luxury watch made from 100 percent ocean plastic. The new 'Ocean Plastic Sport Timepiece,' an evolution of this original model, continues and further strengthens the brand's commitment to improving the global marine environment, incorporating enhanced mechanisms into its design.

Like the original model, this piece exclusively uses ocean plastic that has been collected and recycled from oceans, coastlines, and poorly managed landfills for its case and strap materials. The origin of the raw material collection is also clearly identified. The transport of ocean plastic pellets is carbon-neutral, and manufacturing in Switzerland is powered by solar energy.

The case measures 43mm, and the dial is available in two semi-matte colors: black and white. The jacquard strap, featuring the logo, can be chosen from five colors: black, white, yellow, blue, and orange. Inside the thoughtfully designed case, which includes a rotating bezel, lies an automatic movement.

It is estimated that over 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans annually. The production of one 'Tom Ford Ocean Plastic Timepiece' permanently removes the equivalent of 35 plastic bottles' worth of waste. Furthermore, the packaging for this timepiece is also made entirely from reusable materials.

Designer Tom Ford stated, 'Sustainability has become a critical issue in our lives. Plastic pollution has a significant impact on our environment, with thin-film plastics accounting for 46 percent of plastic waste entering the oceans. We will continue to advocate for the adoption of innovative technologies and do everything we can to change the tide of plastic pollution, especially concerning thin-film plastics. We must strive to save the environment and find solutions before it is too late.'

To commit to improving the marine environment, Tom Ford has announced a partnership with the non-profit environmental organization Lonely Whale and its advisory arm, 52Hz, launching the 'TOM FORD PLASTIC INNOVATION PRIZE.' This prize aims to develop alternatives to biologically degradable and scalable thin-film plastics, with the goal of becoming a major turning point in plastic pollution. The contest offers a prize of approximately 100 million yen (1.2 million USD) and is expected to receive support from investors to bring the winning innovation to market by 2025.