RAPAPORT… The Jewelry
Industry Summit, a forum on sustainability and responsible sourcing, closed
with commitments to pursue projects including harmonization of various
standards and educating workers in the industry.
Large and
small companies from across the jewelry pipeline attended the inaugural
summit in New York from March 11 to 13, as well as representatives from the U.S.
Department of State and other organizations such as banks and accountants.
Among the new
initiatives is a standards and harmonization committee to align and coordinate
existing standards and give companies access to them so that individual firms
will not repeat work already accomplished by others in the industry, according
to a statement March 17.
Committees
will also be set up to tackle how to educate jewelry sales associates about
responsible sourcing, carry out research on consumer attitudes to sourcing and
sustainability in the jewelry supply chain and use new media to communicate the
sector’s accomplishments.
Specific
commitments included helping gem cutters in developing countries who need
education and equipment to avoid silicosis, a disease that occurs from inhaling
stone dust. Another initiative was to start an artisanal colored-gem mining
site project in Brazil that adheres to responsible social, ethical and
environment practices, the statement said.