Plan to promote Responsible sourcing
CIBJO
President lays out
Comprehensive
plan
A
key step: Responsible
Sourcing
Blue Book
Speaking
in Paris to a plenary session of the 13th Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply
Chains of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),
CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri has delineated a comprehensive plan for
promoting responsible sourcing practices throughout the jewellery, gemstone and
precious metals sectors, which includes the release this past January of
CIBJO's new Responsible Sourcing Blue Book, and an online platform that will
provide a set of dedicated due diligence tools free of charge to the industry.
The
CIBJO President was speaking during a special session on the first day of the
OECD forum at which select stakeholders provided details about current and
updated projects. The session was moderated by Guus Houtluin, a senior advisor
on trade issues at the European Action Service (EEAS).
In
his presentation, the CIBJO president pointed to factors that molded CIBJO's
strategic approach. The greater jewellery industry is overwhelmingly comprised
of SMEs, many of which are family-owned and run, he noted, pointing out that,
while on the one hand that means that they are more likely to remain committed
to the business over the long term, on the other hand many are limited in the
amount of resources and personnel they can commit to detailed compliance
systems.
"This
paradox has become more apparent over the past decade and a half, as awareness
of responsible practices has grown, both among our members and our consumers.
As an organisation, much of our attention has been concentrated on meeting the
requirements of a socially aware business community, while trying to protect
the fabric of our industry," he stated.
A
key step in CIBJO's programme was the release this January of its Responsible
Sourcing Blue Book, which provides a framework and guidance for ethically
sourcing gems and precious metals responsibly in the jewellery sector.
It
references the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for minerals from high-risk areas,
insists on compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the
World Diamond Council System of Warranties, and it supports the United Nations
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
"An
operating principle was that it would be inclusive, meaning that there is an
expectation that the standards, guidelines and systems that it describes can
reasonably be applied by all members of the industry, irrespective of size or
financial capacity," the CIBJO President stated.
To
support members of the jewellery industry in implementing the principles laid
out in our responsible sourcing document, CIBJO is now in the process of
setting up an online platform that will educate them about the due diligence
steps that should be taken, and at the same time will provide a set of
downloadable tools and templates, which they can adapt for their use.
A
dedicated suite of due diligence tools will be available at no cost via the the
new CIBJO online platform. Dr. Cavalieri explained, and helping CIBJO develop
this service is the Coloured Gemstones Working Group, facilitated by the
Dragonfly Initiative. The Dragonfly Initiative is an advisory firm that
supports businesses in the precious metals, gemstones and raw materials sectors
create interconnected systems of environmentally, economically and socially
responsible companies.
"Our
ultimate goal is to support the principles expounded by the OECD and to
introduce them to thousands of companies in the jewellery supply chain, so
creating environments in which those companies may responsibly trade and manage
the minerals they use," Dr. Cavalieri said.
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