Sustainability

Our Commitment

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Design

Quality design puts sustainability at the heart of what we do. For over 200 years, in the small town of Waterford in Ireland, we’ve dedicated ourselves to crafting stunningly beautiful products, to be used and enjoyed over a lifetime or more. When you buy a Waterford product, you can be sure that you are buying something that has been designed to last.

Materials and Sourcing

Naturally, a key aspect of our commitment to sustainability is the materials we use to make our spectacular product. We’ve worked hard over the past few years to explore how we can make our product more environmentally friendly and have developed a new crystal formula that will replace, over time, the lead oxides in our current formula with barium oxide. As well as being 100% recyclable, the new crystal formula allows our factories to considerably reduce their energy consumption. By 2025, all Waterford crystal will be produced in this new, more sustainable way.

This new crystal is as beautifully clear and brilliant as you would expect from Waterford, with the same resounding “ping” that signifies quality. The new material is twice as strong, and more resistant to heat. Our craftsmen are pleased, too, because the crystal allows them to showcase their craft with deeper and sharper cuts, creating the tactile and luxury experience people love.

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Manufacturing

We’ve also adapted the way we create our products by designing state-of-the-art factories, which recover the maximum amount of energy. As a result, the electricity in our manufacturing process is now 100% renewable. What’s more, the water we use throughout the production process is constantly cleaned, recycled and reused, without a single drop sent for waste treatment.

Additionally, we’re delighted to have developed a new crystal production process, which uses less energy. What’s more, our manufacturing process now creates a smaller environmental footprint by ensuring you can recycle your Waterford crystal. Whenever possible, waste is melted and reused as raw material for new crystal products. Add to this our commitment to avoid sending anything to landfill, and you can see why our Slovenian factory is working to the highest environmental standards in Europe, within our industry.

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Packaging and shipping

We can’t overstate the importance of packaging our crystal properly. To us, it’s still crucial we use packaging from renewable sources, and use materials that are widely and easily recycled. There are always further developments we can make to our packaging, so we are working hard to improve this every year.

Another key way of making a difference is to keep our supply chains as short as possible. This reduces our carbon footprint, which is good for us, for you and for the planet. To do this, we try and ensure our products and raw materials are primarily transported by land and sea. We also encourage our partners to do the same.

Retail and Marketing

Waterford crystal has always been crafted to stand the test of time. Now, we’re actively encouraging people to choose products that will be enjoyed not just for years, but for generations.

When it comes to marketing and retail, every little helps. That’s why, we use recyclable paper for all printed marketing materials. In addition to this, we’re reducing the quantity of point-of-sale items we give to our retail partners. We like to think Waterford speaks for itself.

Use and Reuse

Thanks to its elegant designs, Waterford crystal has been loved for generations. This dedication to quality is at the very heart of everything we do. It’s why all our crystal needs to pass strict quality and industry standards before reaching the shelves. It’s also why we take so much time and care on selecting the perfect material and why specialist quality and safety tests are conducted throughout the production process.

To complement our passion for craftmanship, we’re now increasing the proportion of recycled materials used in the production process. Ultimately, our aim is simple: To reuse the waste crystal from our factories as raw material for new products, helping create timeless classics that will last a lifetime, while contributing to a greener future.

Fiskars Group Sustainability Statement

Sustainable business sits at the heart of Fiskars Group. Our vision of creating a positive, lasting impact on our quality of life can only be fulfilled by integrating sustainability into everything we do.

We have the potential to drive change for the better and are committed to designing circular products and services, achieving carbon neutrality and creating a positive impact. This gives us an opportunity to make the everyday extraordinary, not only for today, but for future generations to come.