AWDC honoured with for Best Belgian Sustainability Report award

The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) was honoured as winner in the category of other organizations at the 16th edition of the award ceremony for Best Belgian Sustainability Report, on December 2, 2014. The Award is an initiative of the Belgian Institute of Registered Auditors and encourages and rewards companies and organizations that, next to reporting on their economic and financial data, report on their activities in the framework of sustainable development in a transparent manner.

AWDC won opinions of jury including "In the ‘other organizations’ category, the jury considers the Antwerp World Diamond Centre’s report a clear, well-structured and excellent example of a good GRI G4 report. The report succeeds very well in explaining materiality, stakeholder consultation and management of governance and compliance. The jury was also impressed by the fact that AWDC’s report touches sensitive issues in a transparent manner, acknowledging the diamond sector's weaknesses and including a risk analysis. The jury considers AWDC’s sustainability report an act of courage and an important signal from AWDC to the diamond sector, sure to have an impact on the industry.”

AWDC's CEO, Ari Epstein, was honored to receive the award. " This was the Antwerp World Diamond Centre’s first sustainability report and we meant for it to be a clear message to our industry. Like all other businesses and organizations that are present here today, AWDC and the Antwerp diamond sector have a major responsibility towards society,” he said.

The importance of sustainability has increased over the past years. Epstein believes this to be a logical evolution. "We owe it to our employees, our partners, our stakeholders and all the people and communities involved in the diamond chain to take the lead and to strive for a sustainable diamond industry.”