RJC Partners with UN Global Compact on Sustainable Development Goals

(IDEX Online) - The Responsible Jewellery Council has entered into a partnership with the United Nations Global Compact to develop best practice impact case studies for building awareness and educating key stakeholders across the jewellery supply chain from mine to retail on how businesses can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The RJC Code of Practices covers legal and regulatory compliance; responsible supply chains, human rights and due diligence; labor rights and working conditions; health, safety and environmental issues and responsible mining, among other areas of concern. 

We have reviewed the Code of Practices of the RJC through the lens of the SDGs and we are focusing on the practical ways in which our members and the jewelry industry more broadly are implementing the SDGs and how we can do more in Partnership,"says Iris Van der Veken, RJC executive director.

The RJC plans to set up a Technical Workgroup that will focus on membership awareness and training, sustainability strategy implementation connected to the SDGs and the Code of Practices of the RJC, toolkits assessment with a multi- stakeholder approach of monitoring, reporting and accountability.

"We believe there is a great potential for industry organisations to share ideas and initiatives through this RJC platform of multi stakeholder dialogue and collaboration for cross-fertilization to advance SDG implementation across the value chain," says Van de Verken. "The momentum is now to act. We as RJC take this commitment seriously. Our focus is to work with all of our members and the key stakeholders to support the SDGs."