Twenty-one entries from 15 sustainability champions across eight countries and regions have advanced to the finals of the Sustainability Awards 2024 by JWA (Jewellery World Awards), Informa Markets Jewellery revealed today at Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA).

The shortlisted companies submitted the top-scoring entries across five categories, namely Environmental Stewardship, Social Empowerment, Manufacturing Innovation, Community Engagement and Sustainability Leadership. The finalists include pearling companies that consistently prioritised daily ocean protection efforts, diamond manufacturers committed to meeting the ambitious Net Zero challenge, and jewellery manufacturers and retailers dedicated to working towards greener operations while embracing diversity, equity and inclusion, among others. The finalists represent a diverse range of countries and regions, namely Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, the US and Vietnam.

The finalists were announced at a media gathering on the sidelines of the fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

The submissions were assessed and scored by an independent five-member judging panel, comprising experts who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields, both from within and outside the jewellery world. They are John Mulligan, director of Market Relations and Climate Change lead at the World Gold Council (WGC) and president of the Sustainable Development Commission of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO); Nirupa Bhatt, business leadership coach & adviser and gem and jewellery industry expert; Hayley A. Henning, coloured gemstone business strategist; Andrew Lau, director of ESG Advisory for Colliers Asia; and Jan Porter, head of Sustainability at Meiyume, a B2B provider of beauty packaging solutions.

The winners will be chosen and announced in July, and their achievements will be honoured during the Fair Reception of the industry’s biggest B2B marketplace – Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) – on September 18, also at the HKCEC. Additionally, finalists and winners will be invited to participate in the Sustainability Heroes Panel Series at the September fair where they will share their inspiring journeys towards sustainability.

The Finalists
*In alphabetical order

Environmental Stewardship 

•    Autore Pearls 
•    Belmont Emeralds 
•    Fine Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd 
•    Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd 
•    Jewelmer 
•    VGL & Shop LC Global Inc

Social Empowerment

•    Kashi Jewellers 
•    KGK Group 
•    Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)
 
Manufacturing Innovation

•    Belmont Emeralds 
•    Chow Tai Fook 
•    Henan Merak Semicon Technology Co Ltd 
•    InnovSeed Incubation LLP 
•    Shenzhen Shangshan Intelligence Co Ltd

Community Engagement

•    Chow Tai Fook 
•    KGK Group 
•    Smiling Rocks Ltd

Sustainability Leadership

•    Fine Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd 
•    Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd 
•    Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ) 
•    Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd (SRK)

*To learn more about the entries and their impactful initiatives, visit https://www.jwawards.com/

David Bondi, senior vice president of Informa Markets in Asia, expressed his appreciation for the companies that took part in the Awards. He remarked, “After carefully evaluating the entries, our judging panel has chosen 21 submissions that focus on innovative and impactful initiatives. These finalists have demonstrated the pressing need to forge a sustainable and resilient path for our world. They have also affirmed that the power to make this a reality resides within our collective will.”

Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery, added, “The Awards programme is a wonderful celebration of our industry’s best, and we have full confidence that all our nominees will achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.”

What the judges say

The judging panel recognised the entries as compelling examples of how collaborative actions can drive sustainable solutions.

“Considering the entries to these Awards, I was aware of the very different perspectives, capacities and levels of understanding we bring to our work and our aims to make this a more sustainable world. But I was also heartened that the entries clearly indicated that so many jewellery participants, big and small, operating in different countries and parts of the value chain, are making very concerted efforts to contribute to progress on social and environmental challenges. The substantial nature of these challenges will require us to continue to come together to explore how we can identify and implement potential solutions, and how we collaborate more closely to drive much-needed actions and demonstrable progress,” said Mulligan of WGC.

For her part, Henning added, “With so many outstanding nominees, I found it extremely difficult to judge one against the other. I was blown away by the extreme efforts shown by each, from large corporations to the smaller organisations; their endeavours marked by innovation, creativity and a profound commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while actively engaging stakeholders and staff.”

Sustainability is a shared responsibility that impacts all of humanity, according to Bhatt.

“I believe these awards are creating awareness among businesses to collaborate to achieve social and environmental goals,” Bhatt said. “Every entry has demonstrated a strong commitment to taking up greater responsibility for the greater good. I compliment the JWA team for motivating businesses to participate. I felt motivated by the information shared by these companies since they have proven that even a small contribution can make a difference. I look forward to meeting them in Hong Kong this September.”

Porter of Meiyume said “learning about how different companies efficiently employed the resources available to them to address their challenges” was among his key takeaways from the judging experience.

“I hope more companies submit their initiatives to the Awards. All companies, big or small, are likely already doing something to improve on some of the multiple aspects of sustainability but because of a lack of self-belief, hold back from submitting their entries. I hope these companies make the effort to communicate about their initiatives so that the knowledge on how to make a positive impact on the world is spread out. One company taking action can do good, but an entire industry taking collective action can make a difference,” Porter shared.

Informa’s Awards programme provides a strong motivation for the jewellery community to learn from the best and challenge the status quo, added Lau of Colliers Asia.

“Looking ahead, I hope to see more companies embracing the following elements in their sustainability journeys: Calculating the carbon footprint of their businesses and developing a decarbonisation roadmap; implementing strategies to identify and mitigate climate and nature risks; determining their initiatives’ impact on communities and promoting wellness for all stakeholders, and adopting a circular economy approach for long-term sustainability with minimal impact on natural resources,” Lau said.