RJC Membership Grows, to Add Platinum

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) announced Wednesday that its membership has grown to include more than 190 companies and trade associations throughout the diamond and gold jewelry supply chain from around the world. RJC’s membership stood at 148 at the end of 2009.

One of the latest to join is the Danish Jewellers Association, the first Scandinavian trade association to join RJC.

“I am delighted that so many companies are joining their peers in the RJC to advance responsible practices in the jewelry industry,” said John Hall, vice chairman of the RJC. “With strong membership growth reflected across the supply chain, the RJC can truly be described as a dynamic international community united in the common purpose of reinforcing consumer confidence. “

“All our members are seeking to act in a responsible way and if we want to succeed in being more responsible we have to share international knowledge on responsible practices,” said Christoffer Ritzau, CEO of the Danish Jewellers Association. “We like to create an environment where all responsible practices are on the table so we can share the knowledge and learn from each other,”

Michael Rae, RJC Chief Executive Officer, attributed RJC’s growth to the increasing recognition by the jewelry industry that credibly demonstrating responsible social, environmental and ethical business practices is vital to enhancing consumer and business to business confidence.

“RJC plans to expand the certification scope through the addition of platinum, to work on the standards for gemological laboratories and assayers, and to investigate the feasibility of chain of custody standards as a voluntary additional certification option for Members under the RJC System,” concluded Rae.