The De Beers Group of Companies has announced that its investment in skills training for local workforces and social projects increased 13 percent to $52.5 million in 2015.
De Beers reported that it invested $24.3 million in developing training for its workforce in 2015 compared to $18.8 million in 2014 – which represented a 30-percent increase.
The company said that it invested $28.2 million in social projects, benefiting nearly 50,000 people in producer countries. De Beers’ 2014 investment was $27.6 million.
De Beers’ Report to Society also showed that the company had improved its environmental performance, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. In cost terms, its improvements saved the company $16.8 million.
The company’s safety record improved during 2015, and it continued to demonstrate compliance with performance standards in 2015, including re-certification with the Responsible Jewelry Council. It also marked the 10th Anniversary of its own Best Practice Principles, which now covers 320,000 people across the diamond pipeline, in 72 countries.
