RJC joins the UN Global Compact SDG Ambition platform

Responsible Jewellery Council, the leading sustainability standard-setting organisation for the global jewellery and watch supply chain, has joined the UN Global Compact SDG Ambition platform. The platform aims to scale business impact by accelerating the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by UNGC’s participating companies. It enables companies to move beyond incremental progress and step-up transformative change – unlocking business value, building business resilience, and enabling long-term growth.

As a member of SDG Ambition, RJC will lead its 1,400 member companies globally, to strategically prioritise actions to accelerate the jewellery industry’s contribution to the 2030 Agenda, set targets aligned with absolute benchmarks that today may seem aspirational but are critical to spearhead the transformation of economies and societies, and hardwire SDG-related business goals and outcomes into core processes and management of business. In doing so, also deliver a positive impact on the livelihoods and communities in which RJC member companies operate.

Sanda Ojiambo, the CEO & Executive Director of the UNGC said: “By engaging hundreds of companies across the world, this initiative is mobilising a truly global movement of responsible enterprises. This will accelerate progress towards embedding sustainability into business strategies and operations—which will benefit society as well as business.”

The Responsible Jewellery Council has been a participant in the UNGC since 2009. The Ten Principles spanning human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption are integrated into the RJC’s Code of Practices.

In 2020, the Responsible Jewellery Council launched a novel working partnership with the UNGC: "SDG Innovation & Impact in the Jewellery Industry". Key components of the programme include an RJC technical workgroup on impact 2020-2030, training webinars on best practices, and research tools on driving the SDGs throughout the industry with a special emphasis on Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8), Responsible Consumption & Production (SDG 12), Climate Action (SDG 13) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

An SDG Taskforce has been appointed in April 2021 which includes the ALROSA Group, Antwerp Management School, Arabesque, AURUM MONACO SAM, Berker Bros Ltd, BV Chinai & Co, C.Hafner GmbH & Co.KG, CCCMC, Color Merchants, Inc, De Beers,  Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie, Gemological Institute of America, Hermès Jewelry, Natural Diamond Council, Pinkcity Jewel House P. Ltd, Potentate Mining LLC, Richemont, Richline Group, Rosy Blue N.V. ,Signet Jewelers, Star Rays, The Gem and Jewellery Institute of Thailand, World Diamond Council, and the World Gold Council.

This Taskforce will coordinate industry efforts to measure and report SDG impact, build a library of best practices and organise events to educate our members on various SDGs.

“RJC is leading sustainability standards in the jewellery industry and it makes sense that we would launch an SDG taskforce to drive sustainability action. We welcome this partnership with the UN Global Compact. Since its inception, the RJC has taken a leading role on sustainable development in the global jewellery supply chain. We believe in a model of shared values and we see the principles of the UN Global Compact and the SDGs as the foundation for shaping a better world,” says David Bouffard, RJC Chairman.

“16 years ago, RJC had a vision to transform the jewellery and watch industry to be more responsible and sustainable. We began by uniting the industry behind a common set of standards, and now we are uniting the industry again as we up our ambition: from ‘do no harm’ to ‘do good’.  This partnership reflects our long-held vision of inclusion and transparency. We will work closely with the Global Compact and all our stakeholders to drive global action on the SDGs. I consider that our moral responsibility.” says Iris Van der Veken, RJC Executive Director.