The World Diamond Council (WDC) and Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) are leading efforts to implement responsible business practices across the jewellery supply chain through an inter-council partnership.
The tie-up between the two leading trade organisations will help boost knowledge-sharing, pilot initiatives and increase their positive impact on the livelihoods of those working in the jewellery and gemstone industry.
Under the partnership, an RJC official will join the WDC Kimberley Process Task Force to take part in discussions about the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), specifically on expanding the definition of conflict diamonds and the adoption of WDC’s revised System of Warranties (SoW).
A representative from WDC, in turn, will sit in the RJC SDG Task Force – an action platform dedicated to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.
Both WDC and RJC will update their members on progress with the SoW and SDGs and help industry players adopt responsible practices with the help of case studies, hands-on workshops and dialogues with policy makers and investors.
Elodie Daguzan, WDC’s executive director, commented that the partnership will be instrumental in presenting a united industry front in terms of broadening the KPCS scope. Stronger cooperation will also fast-track the adoption of WDC’s revised System of Warranties.