Leading stakeholders are rolling out new standards and tools that push sustainability from aspiration to measurable action across the jewellery supply chain.

The recently concluded CIBJO (World Jewellery Confederation) Congress 2025 brought renewed focus to the industry’s sustainability commitments, with a slate of fresh tools designed to help jewellers align with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and responsible sourcing standards.

The congress took place from October 27 to 29 in Paris, France.

John Mulligan, president of the CIBJO Sustainable Development Commission, said CIBJO is expected to publish a sustainability reference guide along with a tool kit in 2026. The guide will cover all key aspects of the global sustainability agenda that applies to the jewellery sector.

Meanwhile, CIBJO’s ESD and sustainability advisor Helen Mitchell outlined an essential tool, “Double Materiality Assessment,” which CIBJO will be providing for free on its website.

“Companies usually struggle as they move from intention to execution, to get a complete picture of the risks in their own value chain, and to embed those ESG actions in a business strategy,” she said, noting that stronger leadership is needed to drive forward ESG policies on their companies’ agendas.

 

 

CIBJO’s latest initiative also included the newly launched “Sustainability Practice Group,” which is composed of leading experts within CIBJO. This group will pilot ESG frameworks, foster dialogues, share best practices and drive collective actions.

“CIBJO’s close engagement with other organisations and coalitions with shared sustainability-focused objectives such as the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI2030) and the Gold Principles Group, offers further indications of the route towards greater industry collaborations and convergence. The ongoing sharing of knowledge and expertise and increased appetite for collaboration is starting to be seen across the industry,” said Mulligan.

Decarbonisation gains

Jewellery retailers and manufacturers are likewise accelerating decarbonisation and bolstering sustainability measures.

Hong Kong retailer Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group reported progress in operational sustainability efforts, according to its 2025 Sustainability Report. The group’s greenhouse gas emissions, water use and production waste intensity were down 18 per cent, 37 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively, when compared to fiscal year 2019.

 

Gold jewellery by Chow Tai Fook

 

Chow Tai Fook also expanded its reporting to include scope 3 emissions, which encompass all other indirect emissions from the company’s value chain, both upstream and downstream, that are not controlled or generated by the company. This move is aimed to sharpen its focus on supply chain impact and transparency.

“Understanding that our carbon footprint was an immediate priority as part of our primary goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2049, we completed a full scope 3 greenhouse gas inventory in the financial year. It confirmed that value-chain emissions accounted for 98 per cent of our total emission impact and provided a clear baseline for net-zero planning,” Chow Tai Fook stated.

The jeweller said gold purchases accounted for the largest portion of scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. In response, it aims to increase the use of recycled gold and introduce collections made with 100 per cent recycled gold from 2025 onwards.

Industry leaders emphasised that sustainability is a shared journey requiring cooperation across the supply chain. With clearer metrics, new material standards and collaborative workstreams, the year 2025 is paving the path for verified progress over empty promises.

 

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