Father’s Day Gift: Nordgreen Eco Watch

I was looking for the perfect sustainable Father’s Day gift online, when I discovered Nordgreen eco watches. Designed by Danish designer Jakob Wagner, formerly of Bang & Olufsen, these watches have just the kind of streamlined, minimalist design that resonates with my husband.

Then I started reading up on Nordgreen’s sustainability cred. The hardware is crafted from recycled metal. Packaging is FSC certified, including cardboard from responsibly managed forests and felt upcycled from plastic water bottles. Lifestyle  photographs include reusable glasses with stainless steel straws, a subtle endorsement of the #plasticfree movement. Even the name has sustainability at its core, combining the words “Norwegian” and “green.”

Plus, Nordgreen’s Giving Back Program partners with NGOs to donate with each purchase. Customer can choose between giving two months of clean water in the Central African Republic with Water for Good, one month of education to a child in India with Pratham UK, or 50 square meters of Latin American rainforest preservation through Cool Earth. During the pandemic, every order also donates a meal to frontline medical and rescue workers through Fuel Them LA.

Turns out, social responsibility is not just a core value for Nordgreen, it’s actually a core value for Scandinavia: The word “stakeholder” first appeared in Scandinavian corporate management literature in the 1960s, and experts contend that the concept of “shared value” originated in the region. Who knew?

My choice of watch was not entirely altruistic: I fell in love with the Pioneer watch with its seconds dial, chronograph, and domed sapphire glass. The style won the Red Dot Award for Design in 2020 — Wagner’s fourth such accolade, natch. The only question was style: white or navy watch face, rose gold or gun metal hardware, metal or vegan leather strap?

Whether the watch becomes an actual Father’s Day gift remains to be seen — it also could end up on my wrist. Thanks to Nordgreen for sponsoring this post and keeping Mommy Greenest afloat.