Goal 12.2 : By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
Goal 12.4 : By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimise their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Goal 12.5 : By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
AQC ACTIONS :
Goal 12.2 : Alligator mississippiensis skins (representing 98.2% of the exotic skins delivered to AQC Members in 2021) are sourced from farms that are 100% audited or certified and located in the south-eastern USA, mainly in Louisiana. In this State live approximately 3’000’000 alligators, of which more than 2’000’000 are found in the wild, the wetlands. The income from the alligator skin trade allows the investment in the restoration and protection of the bayous (wetlands), since these alligators breed only in their natural environment. Wetlands are also one of the world's ecosystems that store the most of carbon.
Goal 12.4 : For several years, the AQC has been promoting the respect of chemical compliance at international level in Multi-Stakeholder Meetings (welcoming Leather Bracelet Manufacturers, Watch Brands, Tanners, Farmers, Chemical Suppliers, Associations and Commercial Intermediaries). As a reference tool for chemicals, the AQC recommends all its partners to be in compliance with the list of regulated substances in production (mRSL) published by the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC).
In agreement with the partnership for the objectives and to ensure the chemical compliance of the materials, the AQC technical working group defines and regularly updates the lists of regulated chemical substances. Quality controls are carried out by several laboratories referenced by the AQC according to selected and normalised analytical methods. This allows the AQC to create and publish Restricted Substances Lists (RSL) relevant to the leather watch bracelet and all its components.
Goal 12.5 : Through its certification AQC is raising awareness among its Members to implement waste management and circularity in production. During meetings with all Stakeholders, experts are invited to promote circularity.
In early 2023, the AQC also committed to defining an industry-recognised life cycle assessment for bracelets, with the aim of improving their environmental impacts.
