Fair Trade Jewelry

Greg Valerio, laying out plans to establish The Ethical Bullion Company (EBC), writes, “This is the beginning of a revolutionary journey of partnership and transformation that we all believe will create a fountainhead of change for jewellers worldwide.”

For those manufacturers and ethical consumers seeking an environmentally and socially responsible source for gold, this bullion company will make chicken soup for the soul…read on.

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Tags: Best Practices, CSR, Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Gold, Green Issues, Manufacturing, Mining, Rad Transparency, Responsible Mining, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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I was invited to be interviewed for a Rapaport Diamond News segment last week. It was podcast on December 13, 2007. Take a peek!

http://www.diamonds.net/news/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=19997

Tags: CSR, Ethical Jewelry, Green Issues, Interviews, Manufacturing, Rad Transparency, Rapaport, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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A consumer survey from EU countries by the World Luxury Ethical Council shows that consumers are skeptical of companies’ claims to be “ethical,” while pointing to the potential market for companies that can be third party certified as “ethical.”

Certainly part of the ethical ethos today is toward ethical practices which includes in a broad sense corporate social responsibility.
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Tags: CSR, Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Green Issues, Green Wash, Manufacturing, Rad Transparency, Spin, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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The Results of the World Luxury Ethical Council (WLEC)
By Andreas Lim

Introduction: A month ago, at the “Ethical Jewelry Summit,” despite our attempts, we came to no agreement over what “ethical” actually means. Andreas Lim (Founder) briefly discusses the work of the World Luxury Ethical Council to create standards based on “ethical” corporate practices. A consumer survey lists results on the public’s concept of “ethical.” Special thanks for Andreas for his contribution to fairjewelry.org.
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Tags: CSR, Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Spin, Transparency, Trends by admin
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Source: Krista Stryker; Williamette (Oregon) Week Online

You’ve probably heard about fair trade coffee, or maybe even fair trade handcrafts or cotton. How about fair trade gems?

Eric Braunwart, longtime owner and CEO of Vancouver, Wash.- based Columbia Gem House and its jewelry division, Trigem Designs, started the movement nearly a decade ago, when fair trade was less well-known in any field.

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Tags: Environment, Ethical Jewelry, Fair Trade, Green Issues, Green Wash, Spin, Transparency, Trends by admin
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Roger Smith got in touch with me after the Ethical Jewelry Summit, expressing his regret that he was unable to make the meeting. The resulting correspondence resulted in this interview, in which discusses his project which uses technology to connect the market to remote places around the globe.

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Tags: CSR, Environment, Fair Trade, Interviews, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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One of the difficulties in “fair trade” standards is the issue of, what is a “living wage?” Does a government’s standard of minimum wage constitute “fair wages” in a “fair trade” certification? How do those judging determine, objectively, what a “fair wage” is? In the “fair trade” movement this issue is considered primarily for the poor in the developing world, but it is also relevant to US wages.

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Tags: CSR, Manufacturing, Spin, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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One of the most important outcomes of the Madison Dialogue is the working groups, each assigned to focus on developing standards for particular area within the jewelry sector.

These working groups are just getting started. If you wish to participate actively or to receive information, you are welcome to join any of the groups. Email contact information is below.

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Tags: CSR, M. D. Manufacturing, Madison Dialogue by Marc Choyt
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The International Herald Tribune just published an article which discusses what the “ethical” jewelry movement is doing. Conscientious Consumption Article

Vivien Johnston, the founder of Fifi Bijoux, is featured in the article. She attended the Ethical Jewelry Summit in Washington DC. [Read more →]

Tags: Ethical Jewelry, Madison Dialogue, Spin, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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At this time, when so many consumers are interested in “green” products, it is noteworthy to see how the eco-concept is being exploited in the marketplace through “green washing.”

If you wish to read about the study, here’s the link.

Some Green Products Don’t Add Up
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Tags: CSR, Green Wash, Spin, Transparency by Marc Choyt
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