DNV has secured accreditation by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) to audit its members in India and the Middle East according to the RJC Code of Practices and RJC Chain of Custody standards.
By providing these audits, DNV meets the growing demand for transparency and ethical sourcing in the jewellery sector, where trust and credibility are paramount to provide confidence to consumers, retailers, and investors alike.
The Responsible Jewellery Council is the global membership and standards body for responsible jewellery throughout the entire supply chain – from mine to retail. Its ambition is to ensure that responsible standards are upheld across the global jewellery supply chain.
The RJCs Code of Practices establishes a common standard for ethical, social, human rights, and environmental practices, while the Chain of Custody standard outlines an approach for businesses to manage and trade gold, silver, and platinum group metals in a fully traceable and responsibly sourced manner. These standards enable organizations to integrate responsible business practices into their management systems and daily operations. By adhering to the Code of Practices, RJC members contribute towards the United Nations 2030 agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
"This accreditation allows us to support the luxury industry's commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical business practices," said Percy Lakdawalla, Regional Manager Asia Pacific, SCPA at DNV. “Being accredited by the Responsible Jewellery Council is testament to our qualified auditors and domain expertise in the jewellery industry. Our audits will help promote transparency, traceability, and adherence to ethical guidelines, benefiting both producers and consumers by fostering greater confidence and trust in the products they purchase."
“Over the last several years consumers and industry have increased their calls for jewellery to be manufactured in a sustainable, responsible manner” commented Melanie Grant, Executive Director at RJC. “We are delighted that DNV has become an accredited auditor of RJC. Their valuable auditing experience will further strengthen the RJC's ability to achieve our goals of building trust, transparency, and sustainability across the entire jewellery and watch supply chain, benefiting consumers, communities, and the environment.”
The RJC's procedure for approving third-party Conformity Assessment Bodies and auditors is aligned with ISO 17011 and the ISEAL Assurance Code. This rigorous process ensures that only the most qualified auditors can verify compliance with RJC standards.