The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) hosted an industry panel discussion focused on the commercial case for responsible business practices in the jewellery industry. The evennt took place at the 35th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show in Hong Kong last week.
Panelists included jewellery industry experts, Ken Lo, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association (HKJJA); Victor Chan, Vice Chairman of HKJJA and the Chairman and Executive Director of Continental Jewellery (MFG) Ltd (RJC certified company since 2015); Jonathan Kendall, Senior Vice President of Forevermark (Certified entity of RJC founding member, De Beers Group of Companies) and Dr. Guido Grohmann, Managing Director of German jewellery trade association, BV Schmuck+Uhren. The discussion was moderated by Edward Johnson, RJC’s newly appointed Director of Business Development.
In his welcome remarks Ken Lo highlighted the relevance of the RJC to the industry and confirmed HKJJA’s ongoing support for the RJC’s vision of a responsible world-wide supply chain that promotes trust and accountability in the global fine jewellery and watch industry.
The panelists discussed the increasing demand for transparency and accountability from consumers and were in agreement about the need for companies to establish clear corporate social responsibility objectives in response to this shifting trend.
Delegates were introduced to Generation Z, the post millennial age group and future consumers who are inseparably connected to technology, have a high expectation of transparency and are risk averse.
The discussion also highlighted the value of RJC certification in helping its members demonstrate leadership and establish a culture of excellence and integrity which should translate to the consumer. Panelists touched briefly on the vital role of technology in the detection of laboratory grown diamonds and product disclosure.
To conclude the panel discussion, each panelist was asked to summarise the reason for their company’s RJC membership in just one word. “Trust”, “Integrity” and “Leadership”, three words that will play a very important role in the future of the jewellery industry.
Edward Johnson, RJC Director of Business Development said “This was a thought provoking conversation that highlighted the need for continuous improvement within the jewellery industry to secure its future. Joining the RJC and achieving certification against our Code of Practices enables businesses worldwide to not only meet these shifting consumer demands but also to stay ahead of legislation, manage risk and protect their reputation for a bright and prosperous future.”
News Source : gjepc.org
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