Rio Tinto’s Antwerp based sales and marketing organisation has announced its intention to work with its customers to ensure they are certified members of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) by 2011.
Rio Tinto is a founding member of the not-for-profit RJC, established in 2005 to provide a single industry standard for responsible business practices across the entire diamond and gold jewellery supply chain. The RJC Code of Practices covers a wide range of business, human rights, environmental and management criteria.
According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, General Manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business, “We believe there is great value in supporting the RJC as the industry standard, in order to avoid duplication, maximise reach for the programme, and provide clarity and confidence to consumers and the trade alike.”
The majority of Rio Tinto’s diamonds are cut and polished in India where Rio Tinto launched its ground-breaking BEM initiative in 2003. The BEM provided a unique set of tools to enable Indian diamond companies to manage their business risks, and improve their performance. As well as giving practical support to Indian companies to improve their workplace practices, the BEM provided assurance to potential customers or business partners that the manufacturing unit met appropriate international standards, and that its diamonds had been ethically sourced.
In the wake of the implementation of RJC Code of Practices, the BEM in its current form will be discontinued. Past involvement in the BEM will be invaluable for customers as they transition to the RJC model.
“In the seven years since the BEM was launched, the importance of this type of governance for the global jewellery supply chain has been widely acknowledged. The BEM has effectively paved the way for the introduction of the RJC. We look forward to working closely with our customers to take the next steps towards full RJC certification.” said Jean-Marc Lieberherr.
