RJC Unveils Groundbreaking Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit to Propel Ethical Jewellery Practices

New toolkit significantly strengthens RJC’s commitment to driving positive, meaningful impact throughout the global jewellery and watch industry.
Highlights of this comprehensive new resource include robust tools, customizable templates, practical checklists, and actionable guidance designed for immediate implementation.

London XXX: The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), renowned globally as the leading standard-setting organization dedicated to the ethical integrity of the worldwide jewellery and watch sector, proudly announced today the launch of its extensively updated Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit. This vital resource is now available to its extensive membership base and the broader industry, marking a pivotal step forward in fostering responsible business conduct across the entire supply chain.

This latest iteration of the toolkit represents a significant leap forward from its predecessor, originally introduced in 2013. Boasting substantial upgrades, an expanded scope, and a complete redesign, the new toolkit is meticulously crafted to empower member companies with practical, actionable advice. Its primary objective is to assist them in not only meeting but exceeding the rigorous requirements related to human rights outlined within the RJC’s own Code of Practices (CoP) and international standards. Furthermore, this comprehensive toolkit is poised to become an indispensable asset for the wider industry, guiding organizations of all sizes through the complexities of implementing robust Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) processes.

Understanding the Core: What Human Rights Due Diligence Means for Jewellery

The updated toolkit features key enhancements that begin by contextualizing human rights within the unique landscape of the jewellery and watch industry. It demystifies what due diligence truly entails in this sector, moving beyond abstract concepts to offer tangible applications. It lays out a clear, step-by-step methodology for carrying out effective due diligence, emphasizing how these critical steps can be flexibly adapted based on a company’s specific size, operational complexities, and position within the intricate supply chain. This nuanced approach ensures that the guidance is relevant and implementable for everyone, from artisanal workshops to multinational corporations.

Each phase of the due diligence process is bolstered by a practical suite of tools. These resources include user-friendly templates for risk assessments and impact analyses, standardized forms for documentation, and detailed checklists to ensure no critical aspect is overlooked. This thoughtful design aims to simplify the often-complex Human Rights Due Diligence process as much as possible, rendering it particularly accessible and manageable for smaller businesses and those with limited resources, thereby democratizing access to best practices.

A Mission-Critical Imperative: Upholding Human Dignity

“Human rights are not merely a compliance issue; they are mission-critical and absolutely essential to the fundamental work of the RJC,” affirmed John Hall, Interim Executive Director. “At the RJC, our unwavering commitment is to prioritize people and the planet – this translates into a profound responsibility towards every individual working within our industry, from the mines to the retail floor, and extending to the wider communities impacted by our operations. This diligently developed toolkit is made available for the entire industry, specifically engineered to safeguard and uphold human rights both within the operational boundaries of a company and throughout its entire extended supply chain.”

This profound statement underscores the RJC’s belief that ethical practices are not an add-on but an intrinsic part of sustainable and responsible business. The toolkit serves as a practical manifestation of this ethos, providing a framework that enables companies to proactively identify, prevent, mitigate, and account for human rights impacts linked to their operations and value chain. This proactive stance is crucial in an industry that relies heavily on complex global supply chains, often spanning regions with varying regulatory environments and social challenges.

Complementing Robust Standards: RJC’s Code of Practices and UN Guiding Principles

The new Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit is designed to seamlessly complement the RJC’s foundational Code of Practices (CoP). The CoP is the comprehensive, internationally recognized standard to which all RJC members are unequivocally committed, forming the bedrock of responsible business conduct in the jewellery and watch industry. This robust standard encompasses a wide array of critical provisions that meticulously define the meaning of human rights within a jewellery industry context. These provisions include, but are not limited to, rigorous standards for workplace health and safety, fair remuneration, comprehensive non-discrimination policies, protection against child labor and forced labor, and upholding freedom of association.

Beyond the CoP, RJC members also demonstrate their commitment by adhering to the globally recognized UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). These principles provide a framework for states and businesses to prevent, address, and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations. By integrating the UNGPs into its core guidance, the RJC ensures that its members are aligned with the highest international benchmarks for corporate human rights responsibility, further solidifying the industry’s dedication to ethical integrity.

A Holistic Approach: The RJC’s Comprehensive Toolkit Ecosystem

This latest Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit represents a crucial addition to a diverse and expanding suite of invaluable resources generously offered by the RJC to the wider industry. Each toolkit is meticulously developed to address specific, critical, and timely common needs faced by businesses operating across the intricate jewellery supply chain. This holistic approach ensures that members and non-members alike have access to targeted guidance for various sustainability and ethical challenges:

The Gender Equality Toolkit: Recognizing the significant role of women throughout the jewellery supply chain, from artisanal mining to retail, this toolkit provides guidance and resources to promote gender equality, empower women, and prevent gender-based discrimination and violence in the workplace and communities. It champions fair opportunities, equal pay, and safe working environments for all genders.
The Retailer Toolkit: Tailored specifically for retail businesses, this resource helps jewellery retailers understand their role in the supply chain, manage product traceability, communicate ethical sourcing practices to consumers, and ensure their own operations align with RJC standards. It helps them confidently convey the story behind their jewellery.
The Small Business Sustainability Toolkit: Acknowledging that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) form the backbone of the industry, this toolkit offers simplified, accessible guidance on implementing sustainable practices. It addresses common challenges faced by smaller operations, making responsible business achievable regardless of company size.
The Due Diligence Toolkit for Diamonds and Coloured Gemstones: Focused on the unique risks associated with these precious materials, this toolkit provides specialized guidance for identifying and mitigating issues such as conflict sourcing, illicit trade, and human rights abuses in the mining and trading of diamonds and colored gemstones.
The Due Diligence Toolkit for Precious Metals: This specialized resource addresses the distinct due diligence requirements for gold, silver, and platinum group metals, helping companies trace their origins, ensure responsible mining practices, and prevent their involvement in financing conflict or human rights abuses.

Building Unwavering Trust Through Transparency and Accountability

With the introduction of every toolkit, the RJC not only recognizes but proactively addresses a critical and often pressing need within the industry. Today’s discerning stakeholders – from end consumers to investors and regulatory bodies – are increasingly sophisticated and demand comprehensive transparency. They want to know precisely where their jewellery originates, how it is ethically produced, and who contributes their skilled craftsmanship to its creation. This rising demand for traceability and ethical assurance is no longer optional but a fundamental expectation.

By consistently providing increasingly granular transparency into these crucial areas, the RJC plays a pivotal role in deepening trust with consumers worldwide. When a consumer purchases a piece of jewellery, they are not just buying an item; they are investing in its story, its origins, and the integrity of its creation. The RJC empowers its member companies to confidently share these narratives, thereby bolstering confidence not just in individual brands, but in the ethical credentials of the entire jewellery sector. This commitment to transparency is a cornerstone of responsible business and a powerful differentiator in a competitive global market.

ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE JEWELLERY COUNCIL (RJC)

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) stands as the preeminent standards organization for the global jewellery and watch industry. With an impressive and continually expanding network of over 1,600 member companies spanning 71 countries, the RJC’s influence reaches across the entire jewellery supply chain, from the initial stages of mining raw materials all the way through to final retail points. This vast membership comprises diverse entities, including mining companies, refiners, cutters, manufacturers, and retailers, all united by a shared commitment to responsible practices.

RJC Members make a profound commitment to adhere to, and are subsequently independently audited against, the rigorous RJC Code of Practices. This Code is an internationally recognized standard for responsible business practices specifically tailored for diamonds, coloured gemstones, silver, gold, and the entire spectrum of platinum group metals. The independent auditing process ensures that members consistently meet these high ethical and environmental benchmarks, providing assurance to stakeholders.

Further underscoring its credibility and robustness, the RJC is proudly ISEAL Code Compliant. Our comprehensive system has undergone a meticulous and independent evaluation against ISEAL’s Codes of Good Practice – a globally revered and recognized framework that sets the benchmark for effective, credible, and impactful sustainability systems. This compliance signifies that the RJC operates with the highest levels of transparency, impartiality, and stakeholder engagement, solidifying its position as a trusted leader in driving sustainability and ethical responsibility within the global jewellery and watch industry.

Conclusion: A Future Forged with Responsibility

The launch of the enhanced Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit marks a significant milestone in the RJC’s ongoing mission to foster a more responsible, transparent, and ethical jewellery and watch industry. By equipping businesses with the practical tools and guidance needed to uphold human rights throughout their operations and supply chains, the RJC is not merely responding to current demands but actively shaping a future where ethical integrity is non-negotiable. This toolkit is an invitation for every industry participant to join this vital journey, ensuring that every piece of jewellery not only sparkles with beauty but also with the brilliance of responsible craftsmanship and unwavering respect for human dignity.