Responsible Sourcing Main Issue at RJC Seminar at Baselworld Show

(IDEX Online News) – Responsible sourcing is the main theme to be discussed at a seminar hosted by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) at the Baselworld fair on March 27.

The session entitled “Responsible Sourcing: How the new RJC Code of Practices (COP) and key industry initiatives support a responsible supply chain” will feature manufacturers, retailers, RJC members, prospective members and key stakeholders. 

The panel will include RJC Chairman James Courage, and be moderated by RJC’s Interim CEO, Catherine Sproule, and will feature leading industry speakers. Challenges and responses around responsible sourcing from mine to retail, conflict minerals initiatives and synthetic diamonds will be addressed.

Dr Fiona Solomon, RJC Director – Standards Development, will summarize the new RJC COP 2013, with a focus on Provenance Claims and human rights due diligence. The Head of Trade Promotion of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Hans-Peter Egler, will discuss sourcing programs with mining companies.

The importance of harmonization and collaboration across standards and initiatives to create operational efficiencies will be discussed from a producer and from a retailer’s perspective with Feriel Zerouki of the De Beers Group and Philip Olden, Consultant to Signet Jewelers Ltd respectively.

And Stephen Morisseau, of the Gemological Institute of America will address the topic of synthetic diamonds from a laboratory perspective.

“Conflict minerals legislation, synthetic diamonds and a keen focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) is collectively driving increased due diligence in the jewelry supply chain. Our members are committed to RJC’s vision of a responsible global jewelry and watch supply chain. The panel is a representation of the supply chain and each bring expertise and knowledge of supply chain issues at respective touch points,” says Sproule.