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MILAN, ITALY: DECEMBER 17, 2012 – Gaetano Cavalieri, the president of CIBJO, has outlined a comprehensive doctrine for Corporate Social Responsibility in the greater jewellery industry. He was speaking on December 12 at the 3rd International Gem and Jewellery Conference GIT 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, where he was the keynote speaker and delivered the opening address.
To be responsible corporate citizens in the modern jewellery business, three basic rules of practice must be followed, Dr. Cavalieri said: “One, to defend the industry from the various challenges that could threaten our reputation and integrity; two, function as a positive influence, serving as a means for sustainable economic and social development in the communities and countries in which we are active; and, three, to be fully transparent in the way we operate our businesses and about what we sell.”
“As businesspeople we behave ethically through the quality of our management of people and processes, as well as the way in which we impact upon society,” he stated. “And because we have the ability to make a difference to those around us – both negatively and positively – outside stakeholders take an interest in our activity. They may be consumers, but they also may be unions, the government, NGOs, the financial sector, community leaders, opinion makers and the mass media.”
When we talk about Corporate Social Responsibility it is essential to qualify exactly to whom are responsible, Dr. Cavalieri said. He defined three main groups: “One, our business community, which includes all the executives and employees along the entire length of the chain of distribution, or as they say, from the mine through to the jewellery retailer; two, our consumers, who buy jewellery for its beauty, heritage and its ability to express human emotion, and who rely upon us to protect its value and reputation; and, three, our stakeholders, who include the millions of individuals living in the countries and regions around the world in which are active, and for whom we represent a resource for sustainable economic and social development.”
The jewellery industry needs to be aware of its extraordinary status and develop tools and systems of dealing with whatever social challenges and ethical problems that may arise, Dr. Cavalieri stated, noting that the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is one these and is designed to protect the chain of distribution.
“In CIBJO we support all such efforts in principal, but with one important condition,” he stressed. “No such system should create an unfair business advantage, especially if it is restrictively expensive to implement. What unfair systems do is imply that all those who are financially or logistically unable to adopt them are not responsible corporate citizens, at least in comparison to who have the means to implement them. Systems that defend the chain of distribution should be inclusive, and not restrictive.”
“We deal in what commonly are considered luxury items. In other words fine jewellery is non-essential, unlike food, energy or pharmaceutical products. Consequently, in the big scheme of things, there is a tendency to view our industry as having limited significance. But that is not the case.” Dr. Cavalieri stated.
“On a global scale the number of individuals directly and indirectly employed by the greater jewellery industry runs into millions, and there are entire countries whose economic wellbeing is dependent upon the products we produce and sell,” he added. “Jewellery may not be an essential item, but the jewellery business most definitely is, and it is in this context that I would like to consider our position concerning Corporate Social Responsibility.”
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To obtain the full transcript of the presentation of the address of Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri on December 12 the 3rd international Gem and Jewellery Conference GIT 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, please visit the Press Section on the CIBJO website at http://www.cibjo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=10&Itemid=36
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