The annual Rapaport Fair Trade Conference that took place in Las Vegas in June sought to develop a broad set of values that would promote greater corporate social responsibility (CSR) across the jewelry supply chain. The conference succeeded to reach a consensus of support for 10 to 12 points that would encompass what the industry aspires to in its CSR programs.
The discussion purposefully avoided delving into specific actions or legislative measures that might become a burden to the trade.
“Our goal is to find a common ground to figure out what our aspirational values are as an industry,” said Martin Rapaport, the chairman of the Rapaport Group, who moderated the discussion. “Being more general and not tying into specific points gives people the opportunity to interact and find the right way that they can participate, with the right balance that is suitable for them.”
The panel consisted of members from the artisanal mining sector, diamond manufacturers and dealers, jewelers, representatives from the colored gemstone trade, as well as civil society and government representatives. Participants included:
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• Ngomesia Mayer-Kechom, manager of international programs at the Diamond Development Initiative (DDI),
• Eric Braunwart, president of Columbia Gem House,
• Moti Besser, managing director of the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE),
• Gaetano Cavalieri, president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO),
• Kenneth Porter, fair-mined business development officer for the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM),
• Tebelelo Mazile Seretse, Botswana’s ambassador to the U.S.,
• Martin Rapaport, chairman of the Rapaport Group,
• Christina Miller, executive director of Ethical Metalsmiths,
• David Bouffard, vice president of corporate affairs at Signet Jewelers,
• David Bonaparte, president and CEO of Jewelers of America,
• Ronnie Vanderlinden, president of the Diamond Manufacturers Association of America (DMIA),
• Douglas Hucker, CEO of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), and
• Roland Naftule, vice president of CIBJO.
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“To stress the human element of the principles and the need to transcend the product to the people involved in the jewelry industry.”
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