As the endeavor’s main sponsor, Breguet supports Race For Water, which is committed to saving the oceans from the threat of plastic pollution. This association is in keeping with the aim of the House of Breguet’s President, Marc A. Hayek, who wishes for the brand to take an active role in protecting our planet.
The adventure began in 2010, when the Swiss entrepreneur Marco Simeoni founded Race for Water, which supports scientific research on the ecological balance of the deep ocean. After an initial expedition in 2015, the foundation launched a new five-year world tour in 2017 where the main objective is to save the oceans from the threat of plastic pollution and raise public awareness. The odyssey set off from Brittany in April 2017 on board a groundbreaking boat that is powered solely by renewable energy. It arrived in Asia after crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans over the course of two years including stopping in around 20 cities. The boat and its crew intend to reach Shanghai at the beginning of 2020, after their long stay in Hong Kong.
The watchmaker and the foundation have a great deal more in common than their shared passion for the sea. Both entities are committed to saving the planet. Breguet chose Race for Water over another foundation because of its global scope and realistic approach. What makes the foundation unique is its outreach, and the proactive work with young people in particular. It has a strong educational aspect, and the scientific component is also vital. Collecting waste is great, but repurposing it and transforming it into clean energy is even better. This is the ambition behind this project. Because Race for Water also works to find a solution to the issue of transforming and repurposing plastic waste based on optimized high-temperature pyrolysis technology. Deployed on a massive scale, this could end the majority of ocean contamination caused by plastic waste.
