Latest RJC News Archives • Responsible Jewellery Council

JewelryArts 24 Launches Frieze Week 2023

Responsible Jewellery Council — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 03:34:36 +0000

20th October, London: JewelryArts 24 Launches During Frieze Week 2023; The RJC, MGMH & GIA have come together again, fresh from the State of the Art Summit in June 2023 where they examined the future of responsible jewelry on campus at the Mineralogical and Geological Museum, Harvard University. One of the outcomes of that day was a call to involve more young people, storytelling and to educate the world more deeply with data, art and science about the importance of responsible practices within the jewelry industry and wider communities.

To that end, we are launching a competition called JewelryArts24 calling on artists, students, industry, and creatives in general to create a piece of digital art using data from the summit, expanding the message from that day to a global audience. The winning artwork will be displayed during Frieze London in October 2024, a cash prize will be awarded, and Nataal Creative Studio will represent the winner commercially going forward.

Nataal is the leading multimedia brand and creative studio celebrating diverse storytelling from Africa, its diaspora, and the global creative community. Its award-winning magazine, digital platform and event series collaborates with emerging voices to create uplifting narratives driven by a spirit of collaboration. In 2024 Studio Nataal will expand to represent a select number of artists from its network who are shaping the future of radical creativity.

Open to everyone, this interactive media competition was announced at an intimate multi-sensory dinner on the 10th October 2023 in conjunction with W1 Curates and Nataal in London on the preview night of Frieze London 2023. Visual artists Sons of Craft showcased a short film on the night using images inspired by nature, RJC, MGMH and GIA to begin this new storytelling journey. Chefs William Stoyle and Ryan Walker from Zero-waste restaurant Silo provided a vegan menu dedicated to fire and fermentation, with drinks pairings by Stephen Muttley with a botany theme.

Stage two of the competition will see an expert panel of judges announced and the JewelryArt24 website launched to support submissions. The finalists will be announced on the anniversary of The State of the Art Summit – 23rd June 2024 and the winner will be exhibited during Frieze London 2024.

“I’m excited to continue our mission of action and innovation which began with The State of Art Jewelry Summit to unite art, science, education and industry in the service of responsible jewellery. The future of jewellery itself depends on a wider global audience asking for ethical practise.” Melanie Grant executive director RJC

“Raising awareness of the implications and opportunities towards a low carbon economy is an endeavor and a responsibility the jewellery industry must incorporate into its mission. With a clear purpose, little by little I truly believe the positive societal impact could be massive.” Raquel Alonso-Perez, Curatrix, MGMH.

“Drawing from the rich insights of the State of the Art Summit, JewelryArts 24 fosters a new way of sharing the message of responsible practices in jewelry. This competition leverages digital art as a roadmap and alternate medium to illustrate the path towards a more sustainable and conscientious future in the world of jewelry, advancing GIA’s important consumer protection mission and to educate and uphold industry standards,” Susan Jacques, GIA president and CEO.

To submit your artwork please contact: JewelryArts24@responsiblejewellery.com

The post JewelryArts 24 Launches Frieze Week 2023 appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

AVAILABLE TODAY THE RJC- ESG TOOLKIT

Isabella Wild — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:49:07 +0000

London, UK- 24 July “We are today with sustainability where we were with digital transformation 20 years ago. Those who embraced it thrived but also gained new and younger clients, those who dismissed it in many ways got left behind. Sustainability is the greatest single issue facing watches and jewellery today, and I want to help everyone understand what they can do to be part this movement.” Melanie Grant Executive Director, Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC).

Today the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) are proud to officially offer our first ever ESG toolkit to members after it was exclusively launched on 23rd June 2023 at Harvard University. The “State of the Art Jewelry” summit hosted by the RJC, the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University (MGMH) held a panel entitled ESG Demystified where moderater Elizabeth Keenan from Harvard Business School discussed the meaning of sustainability systems in business with panellists Jasmeet Kaur – Senior ESG and Impacts Manager at the RJC, Toby Pomeroy – founder of Mercury Free Mining and Karin Kreider – the Executive Director of ISEAL. Our ESG toolkit is designed to assist our members to understand and report on their ESG impacts.

The toolkit breaks down the purpose and scope of all the ESG reporting frameworks and standards that are currently on the market, in efforts to equip RJC members with the knowledge to make an informed decision based on their individual business needs. All members will eventually have to report, whether it be due to regulation, contractual requirements, sustainable procurement, or consumer preferences. The work presented in our RJC toolkit is the mapping of the COP against the relevant ESG frameworks and the SDGs.

The RJC mission is to help companies create and implement sustainable and responsible business practices, right at the heart of their business strategies.

At the RJC we know calls for the jewellery industry to act more responsibly in terms of environmental and social impact are not new. However, the calls are growing louder, particularly from consumers, who are increasingly favouring brands that act responsibly, value diversity, and have a compelling brand presence both online and offline.

In fact, according to a McKinsey study by 2025, 20-30% of global fine jewellery sales will be influenced by sustainability considerations from environmental impact to ethical sourcing practices. This is equivalent to as much as $110 billion, which is a 3 to 4 time increase in sustainability-influenced purchases since 2019. The study also finds that this trend is expected to impact companies of all sizes and geographies alike, with companies buying diamonds and gemstones wholesale coming under the same degree of scrutiny as vertically integrated players that operate their own mines.

To show consumers that they are credible and sincere about driving environmental and social progress, companies will need to improve the traceability and transparency within their supply chains. Not adapting to these shifts in consumer attitudes is a high risk to company reputation. In an emotion-driven industry, the costs of such lapses can be significant.

Millennials are now turning to small businesses/local brands with an interesting story and strong ideals. Failing to keep up with consumer demands and changing expectations will likely translate to impact in the bottom line.

The RJC bring together over 1700 companies of all sizes, across the global watch and jewellery supply chain, from retail to mining. What unites us is our shared belief that responsible business, without causing harm to people or the planet, is good business and that this can only be achieved by working together, in partnership with others. In doing so, we are enhancing trust in the global jewellery and watch industry and underpinning its future, so people continue to hold jewellery close to their hearts for centuries to come.

Download Toolkit

The post AVAILABLE TODAY THE RJC- ESG TOOLKIT appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

RJC welcomes newly elected Executive Committee and Board members at 2023 AGM

Isabella Wild — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:39:14 +0000

London, UK – 13 June 2023: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the leading standards-setting organisation for the global jewellery and watch industry, announced that its members on 9 June elected three members to its Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, and elected nine members to the Board, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

“RJC’s strength comes from the engagement of our 1,700 committed members, a deeply experienced board and executive leadership team, and a shared belief in building sustainable, responsible business practices across our industry,” said RJC Chairman David Bouffard. “These newly elected leaders, working with a highly talented set of existing board members, will accelerate our efforts through diverse perspectives and deep knowledge. Congratulations to them all.”

During the meeting, Bouffard shared the results of the elections. Elected to serve as RJC Executive Committee Officers were:

Edward Asscher from Royal Asscher was elected as Vice Chair. He said, “I was invited to the board in 2022. Now that I have been elected to the board, I feel strongly supported to further the goals of the RJC: sustainability, diversity and continuously improving the standards. I draw on my long experience to advance our goals, especially for the small and medium enterprises.”

Udi Sheintal from the World Diamond Council was elected as Honorary Secretary. He shared, “I am honored and grateful for the show of trust from RJC members and look forward to joining the RJC Officers in contributing to the organization’s important work.”

Feriel Zerouki from De Beers was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer. She said, “With stakeholder focus on sustainability growing ever sharper, it is vital that the jewellery industry adopts the highest standards of practice. I’m therefore delighted to be re-elected treasurer of the RJC as it continues to expand its membership and delivers wider positive impact with its leading sustainability agenda.”

Election results for RJC Member Forum representatives, where Directors represent their respective forums in the jewellery and watch supply chain, include:

Zara Boltd from Lucara Diamonds and Purvi Shah from De Beers were elected to represent the Diamond, Gold and/or Platinum Group Metals Producer Forum.
Michael Steinmetz from Leo Schachter Diamonds was elected to represent the Diamond Trader and/or Cutter and Polisher Forum.
Philip Reisert from C. Hafner was re-elected to represent the Gold & Platinum Group Metals Trader, Refiner, or Hedger Forum.
Colleen Rooney from Signet Jewelers and Reout Kallati from Kallati International were elected to represent the Retailer Forum.
Kareena Shahani from IGI India and Rajesh Neelakanta from Sequel Secure Logistics were elected to represent the Service Industries Forum.
Gaetano Cavalieri from CIBJO and Bernadette Pinet Couq from BJOP were elected to represent the Trade Association Forum.

The Board and Officers will work closely with RJC Executive Director Melanie Grant and her management team, as the organisation continues to lead and advance responsible business practices across the global jewellery and watch supply chain.

The post RJC welcomes newly elected Executive Committee and Board members at 2023 AGM appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

Istanbul Jewelry Show becomes RJC Supporter

Responsible Jewellery Council — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 15:15:00 +0000

Responsible Jewellery Council, the world’s leading sustainability standard setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry, welcomed Istanbul Jewelry Show, one of the top five international jewellery events in the world, as an official Supporter. Supporters of RJC play the very important role of extending the outreach of the RJC through disseminating information about the RJC and its activities to their respective contacts.

“I am confident that a strong partnership between RJC and Istanbul Jewelry Show would bring added value to our mutual efforts to promote sustainable development and responsible business practices in the jewellery and watch supply chain,” said Melanie Grant, RJC Executive Director.

As a Supporter, Istanbul Jewelry Show commits to making the following in-kind contributions to RJC:

Take a leadership position in the industry by strongly demonstrating your commitment to corporate social responsibility.
Provide speaking opportunities throughout the year at industry events.
Targeted support to the Turkish sector.
Translation of the RJC Code of Practices Standard (COP), Chain of Custody Standard (COC) and related self-assessments into Turkish language.

By becoming a Supporter of the RJC, Istanbul Jewelry Show, joins a number of notable supporters including Surat Jewellery Manufacturers Association (SJMA), Multi Commodities Exchange of India, Jewellery Arabia (JA), BSE India Ltd, European Federation of Jewellery, Polished Prices.com, L’Orafo Italiano, Mulberry Publications – Jewellery, JCK Events, International Jewellery London (IJL), IDEX Online, Compagnie Financière Richemont SA, Collection Pan-Arab Luxury Magazine, Baselworld and ABN AMRO Bank – International.

RJC Supporters are not required to undergo RJC Certification as they do not directly participate in the jewellery supply chain, in contrast to the RJC’s Commercial Members.

The post Istanbul Jewelry Show becomes RJC Supporter appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

RJC Appoints its New Executive Director – Melanie Grant

Responsible Jewellery Council — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 06:00:49 +0000

LONDON, Jan. 23, 2023 –The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the world’s leading sustainability standard setting organisation for the jewellery and watch industry, today appointed Melanie Grant as its new executive director. A celebrated thinker, writer and curator, Ms. Grant brings more than 20 years of experience in the watch and jewellery industry’s biggest and most influential outlets. In addition to commissioning and editing luxury content, she brings significant leadership experience to the role.

Melanie Grant has been a journalist for over 20 years — having worked at The Times, The Financial Times, The Independent, The Guardian, The BBC and — until 2022 — The Economist, where she was luxury editor of 1843 Magazine, its lifestyle sister publication. She worked at The Economist for 16 years as jewellery editor and picture editor and took a sabbatical to write her first book on the jewel as art, entitled Coveted: Art and Innovation in High Jewellery, published by Phaidon in October 2020. She has been on a mission for the last decade to dismantle boundaries between art forms so that jewellery is considered equal to fine art.

David Bouffard, Chairman of the Board of the RJC said, “On behalf of the board, staff and all our members, I am proud to welcome Melanie as our new executive director. She has a deep love and knowledge of jewellery and watches, and a uniquely creative skillset which is both industry and consumer facing. I believe she will successfully take the RJC into a new era as we continue to deliver on our mission of continuous improvement in the integrity of the global jewellery and watch supply chain.”

Ms. Grant’s remit is to continue growing awareness among consumers, collectors, designers, brands and supply chain specialists in the important need to strengthen sustainable business practices in the watches and jewellery industry. With nearly 1,700 members in 71 countries, RJC has given her the responsibility of working closely with its board of directors, management team, staff and outside stakeholders to ensure the future growth of the RJC. She intends to bring clarity and creativity to this complex and vitally important area of luxury.

“We are today with sustainability where we were with digital transformation 20 years ago. Those who embraced it thrived but also gained new and younger clients,” Ms. Grant said. “Those who dismissed it in many ways got left behind. Sustainability is the greatest single issue facing watches and jewellery today, and I want to help everyone understand what they can do to be part of this movement. I feel privileged to have been selected for this monumental task.”

In addition to her deep media background, Ms. Grant also has curated for Sotheby’s, TEFAF Maastricht and The Serpentine Galleries. She guest lectures at Central Saint Martin’s and The Royal College of Art; writes for Vogue, Vanity Fair, The Goldsmiths’ Company and The Natural Diamond Council; and speaks at The Science Museum, The British Museum, The MFA Boston and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She sits on the boards of New York Jewelry Week, The Black in Jewelry Coalition and The Copenhagen Commitment, an NGO dedicated to ethical transparency.

Founded in 2005 by 14 major industry organisations, RJC certifications today — through its Code of Practices — now cover more than half of the world’s jewellery market.

Livia Firth MBE, co-founder and creative director of Eco Age and UN Leader of Change, said, “I’m excited and impressed by this appointment from the RJC. Melanie has a strong, independent and inclusive voice, and she surely is a great fit for the important work the RJC does — and will have to continue doing — to bring substantive change to the jewellery and watches industry.”

Melanie Grant, RJC Executive Director, is available starting from today for interview requests.

ABOUT RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is the leading standards organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry. It has nearly 1,700 members companies in 71 countries, that span the jewellery supply chain from mine to retail. RJC Members commit to and are independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices – an international standard on responsible business practices for diamonds, coloured gemstones, silver, gold and platinum group metals.
RJC is ISEAL Code Compliant. Our system has been independently evaluated against ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice – a globally recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. More information at isealalliance.org. is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 2009.

For more information on RJC Members, Certification, and Standards please visit www.responsiblejewellery.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

FURTHER INFORMATIONHONEST PR CONTACT: Katie Manderson +44 7917 030387
RJC COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: Olivia Saunders-Smith +44 7399 608555

The post RJC Appoints its New Executive Director – Melanie Grant appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

Birks Joins the Responsible Jewellery Council

Responsible Jewellery Council — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:24:01 +0000

MONTREAL, Nov. 29, 2022 /CNW/ – Birks, one of Canada’s premier wedding and fine jewellery brands, is proud to announce that they have officially become a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). RJC is the world’s leading sustainability standard setting organization for the jewellery and watch industry. The RJC’s Code of Practices is the only independently verified sustainability standard for the global jewellery and watch industry covering the entire supply chain, from mine to retail.

Birks’ membership demonstrates their dedication to sustainability and the importance of upholding responsible business practices. The luxury brand is committed to enhancing its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices by incorporating these three pillars into its daily operations and culture.

“Birks maintains consistently high standards in our global sourcing programs and in everything we do to ensure world class high-quality and ethical products,” says Jean-Christophe Bédos, President and CEO, Birks Group. “As a leader in the Canadian jewellery industry, it is of paramount importance to us to be a part of the Responsible Jewellery Council.”

Inspired by the beauty of Canada’s natural landscapes, Birks is committed to preserving the land for future generations and is consistently raising awareness of the importance of protecting the environment through initiatives such as Birks for Bees and engaging in social responsibility such as the Kimberly Process. The Birks for Bees campaign is dedicated to raising awareness and funds by donating proceeds of sales from the Birks Bee Chic for a Cause bracelets to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The company also supports the University of Guelph’s Honey Bee Research Centre and Alvéole’s urban beekeeping initiative, hosting beehives in Montreal and Toronto. The bees are critical for the pollination and the preservation of our environment. All Birks diamonds adhere to the Kimberly process, an international certification serving to ensure that diamonds are conflict-free.

“RJC is delighted to welcome Birks as a member,” said John Hall, Interim Executive Director, RJC. “By committing to the RJC’s Code of Practices, Birks demonstrates their commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices both within their organization and through the entire supply chain. This partnership is a milestone in RJC’s relationship with Canada and we hope that by Birks becoming a member, it will inspire other companies both within Canada and throughout the world to make real positive change within their own business strategies,”.

ABOUT BIRKS GROUP INC.
Birks Group Inc., established in 1879, is a leading Canadian retailer and designer of fine jewellery, timepieces and gifts. The Company operates 24 Maison Birks stores across Canada, including flagship locations in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Maison Birks’ e-commerce website boasts the largest online hard luxury assortment in Canada. Birks Group Inc. also operates the Brinkhaus store in Calgary. Birks jewellery collections are also available in Saks stores throughout North America and in authorized retailers across Europe. Additional information can be found on Birks’ web site, www.birks.com, and www.brinkhaus.com.

The post Birks Joins the Responsible Jewellery Council appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

Responsible Jewellery Council appoints new Vice Chair, new board member

Responsible Jewellery Council — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 16:34:56 +0000

• Edward Asscher is Vice Chair, Board of Directors
• Chanel Director of Development and Sourcing Marianne Zani joins Board

Responsible Jewellery Council appoints new Vice Chair, new board member

Edward Asscher is Vice Chair, Board of Directors
Chanel Watches & Fine Jewelry CSR and Exceptional Supplies Director Marianne Zani joins Board

LONDON, 1st November, 2022 – The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the leading standards organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry, announced today that its board of directors had appointed Edward Asscher as its Vice Chairman, and appointed Marianne Zani to its board. Each received unanimous approval by the board at its meeting in London 6 October, the first in-person board meeting since the global pandemic began.

A member of one of the diamond industry’s, and Amsterdam’s, well-known families, Edward Asscher was elected President of the World Diamond Council (WDC) in June 2020. This is his second term as WDC President, having led the organization from 2014 to 2016.

His career experience includes owning and leading Royal Asscher Diamond Company, which he has passed on to his children. Additionally, he was Vice President of the European Council of Diamond Manufacturers and is a past President of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) and the International Diamond Council (IDC), a diamond standards-setting organization affiliated with IDMA and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB).

“It is an honour to have been elected as Vice Chair of RJC. I trust that my long experience serving the industry will contribute to meeting its goals and those of its members. In particular, I am committed to RJC’s inclusivity,” Asscher said. “As president of the World Diamond Council, I am well aware of the challenges involved in representing all participants in our industry. RJC’s standards, sustainability goals and the furthering of diversity will contribute to all, both larger and smaller companies.”

With more than 20 years of experience in jewellery and watchmaking brands, Marianne Zani is the CSR and Exceptional Supplies Director of Chanel Watches & Fine Jewellery (WFJ). She joined Chanel in 2017 as Sourcing and Development Director, and currently leads the CSR vision, strategy and operations for Chanel WFJ.

Before joining Chanel, she held various positions at Cartier and developed a strong and comprehensive expertise in product, jewellery industry, client expectation and savoir-faire preservation. She is sits on the Board of Directors of the Union Française de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie, des Pierres & des Perles.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed as a member of the board, and I am grateful for the trust that the board has placed in me. I look forward to using my competencies and knowledge to support RJC’s ambitions, and help shape RJC’s future,” Zani said. “Considering the multiple challenges we face as an industry, I know that sustainability is an absolute necessity we need to pursue and continuously address to achieve CSR objectives. RJC is a central player with a solid leadership experience in our industry, and I am delighted to be associated with its Board of Directors.”

“Both of these appointments represent significant additions to the strength of deeply experienced board we have in place,” said Board Chair David Bouffard. “Edward brings a distinguished and comprehensive career in the jewellery industry to our executive leadership on the board, and Marianne brings a tremendous set of experiences and insights from one of the world’s leading luxury brands. Our board has never been stronger, more committed and dynamic.”

For more information:

Olivia Saunders-Smith
Marketing & Communications Team
Responsible Jewellery Council
communications@responsiblejewellery.com
+44 207 321 0992 ext. 206

ABOUT RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL

Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) is the leading standards organisation of the global jewellery and watch industry. It has over 1,600 member companies in 71 countries, that span the jewellery supply chain from mine to retail. RJC Members commit to and are independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices – an international standard on responsible business practices for diamonds, coloured gemstones, silver, gold and platinum group metals.

RJC is ISEAL Code Compliant. Our system has been independently evaluated against ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice – a globally recognised framework for effective, credible sustainability systems. More information at isealalliance.org. is also a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) since 2009.

For more information on RJC Members, Certification, and Standards please visit www.responsiblejewellery.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook

The post Responsible Jewellery Council appoints new Vice Chair, new board member appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

RJC champions due diligence best practice and learning

Responsible Jewellery Council — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:15:00 +0000

RJC partners with ISEAL and Bonsucro to enable good practice and learning in due diligence and grievance mechanisms.

CEOs and leaders are under increasing pressure to respond to changes in laws, regulations and reporting obligations for human rights and environmental risks, including the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDD) directive; United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights (UNGP); and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Applying best practice saves organisations valuable time and money. The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), provides its members with the necessary training and toolkits to apply best practice in their organisation’s management systems, and wanted to encourage peer-to-peer learning across non-jewellery sectors.

In 2021, RJC joined a multi-stakeholder partnership to support the development of human rights due diligence and grievance mechanisms. Research was conducted to understand best practices in how organisations describe the actions taken by a company to identify and act on actual and potential risks to people and to the environment, within its own operations and throughout its entire supply chain.

The findings and recommendations of the research were published in three public documents and are available freely to download from the RJC Toolkits webpage, and the ISEAL website.

RJC would like to thank fellow partners ISEAL and Bonscuro; fellow ISEAL members who participated in the research; and project financial sponsors Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, and ISEAL Innovations Fund.

We continue to wish our members and other business leaders every success with your sustainability journey!

Project details

Title: Good practice & learning in Due Diligence & Grievance Mechanisms

Project lead: Bonsucro

Project partners: Responsible Jewellery Council

Duration: October 2021 – June 2022

With thanks: Co-funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, through the ISEAL Innovations Fund

Read the full details on the ISEAL website.

Download

The post RJC champions due diligence best practice and learning appeared first on Responsible Jewellery Council.

The Responsible Jewellery Council launches a new Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit

Responsible Jewellery Council — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:55:23 +0000

New toolkit strengthens RJC’s commitment to drive positive meaningful impact on the ground

Highlights of new kit include tools, templates, checklists and practical guidance

London 23^rd August 2022: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the world’s leading standard – setting organisation for the global jewellery and watch industry, today launched an updated Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit for its members and the wider industry.

The new toolkit includes significant upgrades, expanded scope and a full re-design from the original toolkit delivered in 2013. Member companies will find practical advice to help them meet the requirements of COP 6 Human Rights. The Toolkit will also be valuable for the wider industry to implement human rights due diligence (HRDD).

The toolkit features key enhancements, including context on Human Rights and what due diligence means for the industry. It provides practical steps to carry out due diligence, and how these steps can vary based on a company’s size and role. Each step includes a practical set of tools, including templates, forms, and checklists to simplify the Human Rights due diligence process as much as possible, particularly for smaller businesses.

“Human rights are mission critical, and essential to the work of the RJC,” said John Hall, Interim Executive Director. “At the RJC we put people and planet first – making a commitment to people working in the industry and the wider community. This toolkit is available for the entire industry and is designed to protect human rights both within the company and throughout the supply chain.”

This toolkit complements the RJC’s Code of Practices (CoP), the standard to which all RJC members are committed. The COP includes workplace health and safety, remuneration, non-discrimination and other provisions, which really define the meaning of human rights in a jewellery industry context. RJC members also commit to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. To download the new RJC Human Rights toolkit, visit Toolkits • Responsible Jewellery Council.

This toolkit is the latest edition to a wide variety of tools offered by the RJC to the wider industry including:

With every toolkit RJC delivers, it recognises and addresses a critical and timely, common need. Stakeholders want to know where jewellery comes from, how it is made and who has a hand in crafting it. The RJC deepens trust with consumers and confidence to our member companies by providing increasingly transparency into those areas.