Seven enterprises demonstrating the global jewellery industry’s commitment to positive change have emerged victorious in the Sustainability Awards 2025 by JWA (Jewellery World Awards). 

Representing a truly international showcase of excellence, the winning companies from China, Hong Kong, India, Italy, the US and Vietnam will be honoured during the Fair Reception of Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) on September 17.

Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery, the Awards programme recognises excellence across five categories: Environmental Stewardship; Community Catalyst; Tech for a Sustainable Future; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Sustainability Leadership.

“What an exceptional year! All entries received were truly outstanding, making us wish we could recognise each one,” commented Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery. “Sustainability and business success naturally complement each other but when a company’s core mission extends beyond financial gains, its influence ripples outward exponentially. As our judges observed: Sustainability transcends good business. This is where meaningful change begins – in enterprises creating positive impact not because it’s advantageous but because they see no other way forward.”

As consumer expectations continue to evolve, sustainability becomes not only a choice but a necessity for long-term business survival, Lau continued. “The goal is to view sustainability not as something businesses ‘do’ but as something they fundamentally ‘are,’ and we believe this is the path being pursued by our 2025 winners,” she said.

The Award recipients for 2025 are:
 

 

The Award Recipients will be honoured during the Fair Reception of JGW – the industry’s No.1 B2B jewellery sourcing destination – on September 17, at the Grand Foyer of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Additionally, the winners and finalists will be invited to participate in the Sustainability Heroes Panel Series, where they will share their inspiring journeys.

The awardees were selected by accomplished experts from diverse fields, both within and beyond the jewellery industry. The jury consisted of John Mulligan, head of Sustainability Strategy at the World Gold Council (WGC) and president of the Sustainable Development Commission of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO); Brandee Dallow, president of the Community for Ethical Jewelry (formerly Ethical Metalsmiths) and chief sustainability officer at Grandview Klein Diamonds; Caroline Yuan, vice president of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE); Andrew Lau, director of ESG Advisory for Colliers Asia, and Jan Porter, director of ESG at B2B beauty solutions provider, Meiyume.

“The judging process was both rewarding and challenging, largely due to the exceptional depth and quality of the submissions. It was incredibly gratifying to witness so many diverse jewellery companies striving to make a meaningful impact and contribute to progress on various environmental and social factors,” said Mulligan. “I hope the winners inspire other companies to embrace further opportunities to address our shared sustainability goals and expand their ambitions to become agents of change.”

This year’s honourees are setting the standard for what meaningful progress in sustainability looks like, shared Dallow. “Their actions demonstrate that purpose and profit can, and must, coexist in today’s business landscape. These companies are not just meeting expectations; they are redefining them through transparency, innovation and accountability. Their leadership provides a clear benchmark for others in the industry. For companies still progressing on their journey, these honourees illustrate what’s possible when sustainability is embedded into the core strategy, not treated as an add-on. This is what real commitment looks like,” she said.

The award recipients reinforced a vital sustainability principle: What gets measured gets managed, added Porter. “All of our finalists showed impressive programmes to promote sustainability within their spheres of influence. What sets apart the winners in their respective categories is the tangible and quantifiable impact that they have delivered from their programmes. Congratulations to all the winners and we hope you continue the good work,” Porter said.

This sentiment was echoed by Yuan, who found herself consistently impressed while reviewing the entries. “These companies offer inspiring examples amid significant market shifts,” she observed. “Every participating business, regardless of size, has elevated social responsibility and sustainability to key strategic goals, weaving them into their daily operations. Their achievements highlight an essential truth: Sustainable business growth balances commercial and social value. In fact, social value forms the foundation of lasting corporate success. I hope these practices can spread throughout the jewellery industry through the JWA platform."

Second-time judge Andrew captured the panel’s shared enthusiasm with his perspective. “What a thrill to judge the Sustainability Awards two years running! This year’s edition was fiercely competitive, with participants stepping up their game, delivering bolder submissions after learning from last year. Despite global challenges, the push for net-zero and biodiversity shines brighter than ever,” noted Andrew. “Across five dynamic categories, innovators are igniting change. These do not only showcase their passion but can also inspire companies from various industries to drive sustainable innovation.” 

Meet the Awardees

Environmental Stewardship Award:
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd

 

Established in 1992 by the Dholakia brothers – Savji, Tulsi, Himmat and Ghanshyam – Hari Krishna Exports is headquartered in Mumbai, with diamond manufacturing units in Surat, Gujarat. Today, the company exports polished diamonds to over 100 countries.

In 2024, the company stepped up its flagship environmental initiatives, namely:
•    Mission River: A comprehensive river and watershed rejuvenation programme. Through this mission, the company revitalised over 160 water bodies and conserved approximately 36 billion litres of water.
•    Mission 102030: A decade-long afforestation and biodiversity enhancement campaign aimed at planting 10 million trees by 2030. With over 3.5 million trees already planted (approximately 500,000 trees planted in 2024), Hari Krishna’s efforts have transformed barren landscapes, rejuvenated ecosystems and empowered local communities.

 

Community Catalyst Award:
Shop LC

 

Shop LC’s journey begins in 1980 with the founding of VGL, its parent company, dedicated to gemstone manufacturing. Over decades, the company travelled the world to find many rare gemstones and fashion them into fine jewellery sold to major retailers worldwide. The group’s direct-to-consumer foray started in the UK in 2006 and in the US in 2007 with a mission to offer outstanding values to customers due to its direct sourcing and manufacturing capabilities. In 2017, Shop LC – short for Loving Care – started offering a diverse spectrum of finds for the home, fashion and beyond. More than just a shopping destination, Shop LC is now an immersive experience built on craftsmanship, global sourcing, excellence and making a meaningful impact. Through the company’s “Your Purchase Feeds” programme, Shop LC has donated over 54 million meals to date. The company said it is just getting started. Its goal? 1 million school meals a day by 2040.

 

Tech For A Sustainable Future Award:
Shenzhen Kinghood Jewelry Manufacturing Co Ltd

Shenzhen Kinghood Jewelry Manufacturing Co Ltd, established in 2012, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kinghood Group’s gold and jewellery division, ranked among China’s Fortune 500. Employing 700+ staff, the precious metal service provider pioneered the “Gold Jewelry C2M Customization Platform” – a system that has broken through the traditional limitations of the gold and jewellery industry. By integrating AI-driven customisation capabilities with advanced process technologies, the platform fulfils personalised consumer demands through a sales-driven production approach. This breakthrough solution effectively disrupts the conventional standardisation and inventory-based models that have long dominated the gold and jewellery sector. Since the launch of its gold customisation business model, the company has observed improved operational efficiencies. Inventory turnover has accelerated from 30 days under the traditional approach to just 15 days, while reducing capital holding costs by 80%.

 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award:
Nanjing Baojie Technology Co Ltd

Nanjing Baojie Technology Co Ltd is the parent company of Bojem Jewelry, a Forbes China Emerging Brand that was co-founded in 2014 by Zhao Yi and jewellery collector Wu Ji. With a multi-platform digital presence reaching 5 million+ followers – 88% of whom are women – Bojem promotes diversity through storytelling and community engagement. From its inception, the brand has embraced the philosophy of “Diversity in Harmony, Beauty Without Boundaries.” Today, women make up over 85% of Bojem’s workforce, with 70% holding management positions – far exceeding the industry average. Gender equality is formally embedded in the employee handbook and enforced through third-party audits. Development opportunities within the company are assessed based on training participation, satisfaction levels and skills improvement outcomes: Training participation rate reached 95% in 2024; satisfaction with training programmes was at 90%, and 80% of employees reported that the training directly enhanced their job-related skills.

 

Sustainability Leadership Award:
Legor Group SpA

 

A specialist in the science of precious metals, Legor has, for over 45 years, been transforming metals into excellent alloys, powders and galvanic solutions for the production of jewellery and fashion accessories, guaranteeing customers reliability, safety and high performance. Among Legor’s founding principles, the protection of the Planet and People is fundamental. To date, Legor is among the few companies in its sector that is able to certify that its products are made exclusively with precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium) that are 100% from recycled sources within a verified Chain of Custody. With the achievement of UNI EN ISO 14021:2021 certification in October 2022, Legor can now guarantee that even some non-precious metals in its products come from 100% recycled sources – an ethical choice aligned with circular economy principles.

 

Sustainability Leadership Award:
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ)

 

Established in 1988, PNJ is recognised as one of Vietnam’s most prominent jewellery manufacturers and retailers. Currently, the company operates 400+ retail stores nationwide. PNJ owns three subsidiary companies and maintains a quality workforce of nearly 9,000 employees, including 1,700+ highly experienced jewellery artisans. PNJ’s nationally recognised CSR initiatives include the “Zero Dong” Mini Supermarkets; “Warm Embrace” education campaign; Journey to Safe Motherhood; Raising Awareness for Autism in Vietnamese Children; Breast Cancer Support Programs and Happy Young Family, among others. PNJ achieved record-breaking performance in 2024, with net revenue growing by 14.1% and post-tax profit increasing by 7.3% – the highest profit level in the company’s history. Strong financial management coupled with exemplary ESG practices earned PNJ a place in the Vietnam Sustainability Index (VNSI), highlighting the company’s dedication to corporate governance, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

 

Sustainability Leadership Award:
Valentine Silver International

 

Founded in 2004 by the Valentine Group, Valentine Silver International specialises in 925 sterling silver, gold and brass fashion jewellery, featuring more than 150 natural gemstones. Today, it is recognised as a Star Export House by the Government of India, with 100% of its production dedicated to international markets. The measurable impact of the company’s sustainability strategy is evident in every aspect of its business – environmental conservation, social responsibility and innovation. What sets its efforts apart is the integration of these goals into its core values, backed by numbers, people-centred practices and replicable frameworks. Valentine Silver’s creativity lies in doing the everyday differently: Turning dust into silver, waste into art, students into changemakers and industrial zones into green sanctuaries. In 2024, the company experienced a 15% growth in global orders from sustainability-focused customers after strategically developing products that reflected broader ecological and social responsibility trends.