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CIBJO focus fixed on sustainable development

March 14, 2007

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Cape Town, South Africa—The second day of the 2007 CIBJO Congress featured two panel sessions on sustainable practices.

Organized by CIBJO's Ethics Commission, the panels featured 16 speakers from companies and associations representing all aspects of the diamond and jewelry supply chain, from mine to retail, as well as laboratories. The speakers detailed the efforts undertaken by their organizations to address responsible business practices.

Cecilia Gardner of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, who outlined the importance of existing laws and regulations in all CIBJO member countries, framed the discussion. Topics included the Kimberley Process and anti-money laundering.

Among the representatives from large diamond-, gold- and platinum-mining companies were John Hall of Rio Tinto Diamonds, Martin Leake of BHP Billiton Diamonds, Steve Lenahan of AngloGold Ashanti and James Courage of the Platinum Guild International. Each spoke of his organization’s commitment to sustainability through internal programs and membership to the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices (CRJP).

Attendees were able to hear about programs that are underway in some form. Wilson Mutagwaba of the Mwadui Community Development Partnership in Tanzania spoke of a pilot project there that is looking at the artisanal and small-scale diamond-mining sector. The project is aligned with the Diamond Development Initiative.

With the idea of fair trade getting more attention, colored-stone manufacturer Eric Braunwart spoke of three fair-trade initiatives his company has started in Mexico, Africa and Australia.

Retailers, including Bev Hori of Ben Bridge Jeweler in Seattle, Vicki Cunningham of Cunningham Fine Jewelry in Tulsa, Okla., and John Hayes of Goodman's Jewelers in Madison, Wis., relayed how issues of business responsibility have become more important to consumers, who want to know where their jewelry originates.

Lab representatives, including Donald Palmieri of the Gem Certification and Assurance Lab and Tom Cushman of the Institute Gemmologie de Madagascar, also gave presentations.

Finally, delegates heard the latest from Michael Rae, chief executive officer of the CRJP, regarding the progress the 71-member group is making toward implementation of its Responsible Practices Framework, with third-party monitoring set to begin in January 2008.

"The array of speakers we heard from today conveys to the world how serious the international jewelry industry is about sustainable business practices," Jewelers of America president and chief executive officer Matt Runci said.
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