S P O N S O R E D F E AT U R E
ECO-DRIVE, WORLD-FIRST ECO-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY BY CITIZEN Back in 1976, Citizen has had the foresight to commercialise the analogue solar watch and commitment to develop it further to contribute to the sustainable life style. In 1995, before the word “eco” became commonplace in Japan, we came up with the name “Eco-Drive” for Citizen’s range of watches fitted with solar cells that uses any source of light absorbed through the crystal and dial to power a rechargeable battery. Eco-Drive constantly keeps on running anytime and anywhere, as long as there is light. Since battery changes are never required, Eco-Drive watches well meet the universal demand for environmentally friendly products. If the total of 7.2 million pieces sales of Eco-Drive watches in 20052007 had been conventional quartz watches, their primary batteries could be piled up to 1.7 times the height of Mt. Everest and such a massive quantity of batteries would have been eventually dumped into the soil. Ever since becoming the first watches to be granted Eco-Mark certification in Japan in 1996, as well as the Chinese Eco-Mark in 2001, our Eco-Drive watches have continued to lead the solar-powered watch market. At BASEL WORLD in 2009 and 2010, we unveiled Eco-Drive concept models, demonstrating Citizen’s potential for the future and towards the eco-sustainability in terms of expanding the possibilities of design and technology. Not only
Noboru Yamaguchi, General Manager Citizen Watches Gulf Co.
Eco-Drive concept models, but also all our models of Eco-Drive watches feature the innovative designs and powered by Eco-Drive engine inside the casing. I am proud to say that Citizen would commit ourselves to endeavour to deliver comfortable and exciting eco-friendly time to you.