Jewelry Industry Moves Toward Sustainable and Ethical Sourcing

In 1998, the United Nations voted to ban the purchase of blood diamonds from Angola. Since then, the public has become increasingly aware of ethical sourcing concerns and has shifted focus to other mineral extractions that may be used to fund wars and armed conflict in other African countries and other nations. Today, “conflict minerals” encompasses four key raw materials (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) that are extensively used in all sorts of products – from mobile phones, computers, electronics, automobiles and more.

 

Gemstones Ethical Sourcing Efforts

 

 

Now, the jewelry industry has forged ahead with recent efforts to ensure gemstones and other jewelry products are sustainably and ethically sourced.  Before the American Gem Trade Association’s annual conference kicks off in Tucson, hundreds of jewelers and others will gather on Jan. 29-30 for their second “Jewelry Industry Summit” to advance efforts for ethical sourcing of gemstones and to improve sustainability in the gem supply trade.

Source Intelligence, the global leader in ethical sourcing and supply chain management, will attend this year’s summit to share its knowledge and further assist the jewelry industry in achieving its goals for ethical sourcing.

In its first summit in 2016, jewelers agreed to many of the same goals that other industries seek when it comes to sustainability and ethical sourcing. For instance, they sought:

  • To procure materials in a way that protects the environment
  • To ensure its activities help promote the growth and well-being of local communities where materials are sourced and traded
  • To promote supply chain transparency
  • To adhere to standards that protect human rights and prevent modern-day slavery.

The jewelry industry’s effort mirrors the more-publicized concerns of the fashion world.  Consumers are becoming stronger proponents of ethical sourcing and base purchasing decisions on whether their clothes and accessories involve slave labor or harm to the environment. The jewelry industry faces additional challenges since the supply chain consists of many independent businesses that don’t have the resources to trace and verify the source of their gold and gemstones.

 

 

Resources to Reduce Supply Chain  Risk

 

 

As Source Intelligence has highlighted in white papers and articles, companies large and small can follow some simple steps to reduce supply chain risk and achieve ethical sourcing goals. This includes adopting the due diligence protocols and reporting guidelines that govern disclosure of conflict minerals under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.  

The steps and commitments required under Dodd-Frank will often help companies establish goals, policies and plans that can govern how other source materials are tracked and verified. 

Another tactic is to insist on suppliers filing their compliance information in a central portal for multiple regulations; this not only reduces inefficiencies but allows for easy access and reporting for many regulations and products. 

Source Intelligence operates the world’s largest supplier database and communicates with suppliers 24/7 basis to help companies meet a range of regulations and ethical sourcing standards. Source Intelligence also works with multiple organizations that independently verify conflict-free raw materials.

Request a demo to learn how our technology solution can help you identify and mitigate supply chain risk.

 

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