CIBJO and RJC Sign Deal on Business Practices

The agreement brings together the two leading global bodies in the jewelry business.

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the International Jewellery Show in London.

The agreement aims to advance responsible business practices among all sectors of the jewelry supply chain, and will include the use of CIBJO-developed CSR education programs created together with the United Nations, and chain of custody certification programs developed by RJC.

Both organizations aim to collaborate on efforts to build a solid understanding and commitment from the jewelry industry, to improve its performance in the vital areas of human rights, social and environmental performance and ethical business practices.

Among the key parts of the MoU is the establishment of a MoU Working Group to oversee the implementation of the agreement to be headed by CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri and RJC Chairman James Courage. They will appoint two industry representatives from their respective organizations to address the synergies inherent in the cooperation between these two global groups.

“Our goal is to address proper business practise in the very broadest sense, and together CIBJO and RJC are able to provide comprehensive solutions,” said Cavalieri. “The prime beneficiaries of this agreement need to be the greater jewellery industry, jewellery consumers and all of our stakeholders to the very grass-roots level.”

"I am personally very pleased to be working with CIBJO and its President Gaetano Cavalieri and to be part of the MOU working group. I am sure there will be positive outcomes from this collaboration for the jewellery industry,” said Courage.