Seiko Ditches Mercury Batteries

The Seiko Watch Corporation will "lead the watch industry in reducing environmental impact" by utilizing batteries that are completely free of mercury, according to a company newsletter.  Seiko notes that while mercury-laden batteries have been prohibited in many countries for some years, legal exceptions have been made for button-style batteries, due to their small size and correspondingly low mercury levels.

Following the initiative inaugurated in April 2007, every Seiko watch as of June 2008 onward will be offered exclusively with batteries that contain no mercury.