JNA Awards 2012 Jewellery Industry Best Practices

38 JNA AWARDS 2012 Jewelmer International Corporation Category: Sustainability Initiative of the Year Country/Region: Philippines Established in 1979 by French pearl farming specialist Jacques Branellec and Filipino entrepreneur Manuel Cojuangco, Jewelmer International Corporation is world- renowned for its golden South Sea cultured pearls, grown in the rare Pinctada maxima oyster at its environmentally friendly farm in Palawan, Philippines. The company has a well-established retail network in the Philippines, Paris, Dubai, Melbourne and Hong Kong, and operates workshops on the design and creation of fine pearl jewellery set in 18-karat gold. Sustainability lies at the core of Jewelmer’s business. The pearl farmer perceives its golden pearl as both the inspiration and product of mindful and ecologically friendly pearl farming practices. “Known for their rarity and beauty, golden South Sea pearls are nature’s finest gifts,” said Branellec. “Every time we see a golden pearl, we see the promise of a clean environment.” ‘Green’ farming As Jewelmer maintains a pristine and ecologically sound marine environment at its farms, fishing yield at nearby waters have increased from three kilos to 20 kilos daily. The pearl farmer has also minimised its carbon footprint by using solar panels to power the farms’ freezers, lights and pumps and is exploring the further use of coco diesel, which presently powers single-engine pumps that clean oyster baskets. Moreover, the farms’ wastewater passes through a rapid sand filter and is reused in areas such as the farms’ laboratory to clean oysters prior to operation. Commenting on Jewelmer being shortlisted for the JNA Awards’ Sustainability of the Year category, Jewelmer Assistant Managing Director Pierre Fallourd said: “Sustainability is the cornerstone of our heritage and we are very honoured that this value is being acknowledged by our peers in the industry. We accept this recognition on behalf of all responsible pearl farmers who firmly believe that the pearl is a time capsule. Each pearl comes to life as a physical witness of the beauty and pristine conditions of the environment from which it hails.” Save Palawan Seas Foundation Jewelmer’s commitment to sustainable development extends beyond its walls. In 2005, it established the Save Palawan Seas Foundation Inc (SPSF), which aims to provide coastal communities in Palawan with continuous assistance and environmentally