Hello dear readers! Welcome back to Part 2 of our discussion on gemstones. In this post, I will be sharing some solutions that can be implemented to establish fairer trade. Coloured gemstones are often overlooked in the discourse on exploitation of raw materials, hence I was interested to do some research on whether there has been action taken against it.
But what has been done to prevent this? Currently there has not been any binding international laws when it comes to coloured stone trade. The US introduced the Junta’s Anti-Democratic Efforts (JADE) Act which prohibits the import of Burmese rubies and jadeite. As of 2016, the ban on those gemstones remain in place. There have been other independent groups like the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) or the Jeweltree Foundation, but these groups can only do so much. With the many small-scale mining sites worldwide, it is difficult to track and monitor exports, what more on-site practices.
Education is an important bottom-up approach to increase literacy rates. This will allow for more effective implementation of safety regulations as well as proper valuation of stones to ensure that their materials are being sold at fair market value. Education also opens more doors to options outside of mining. Keeping their production local also ensures that their skills are upgraded and protect their precious native raw materials from being exploited by buyers.
How else can we ensure ethical sourcing? Vertical integration refers to the merging of 2 businesses which operate at different levels of a supply chain. While this supposedly ensures a transparent process from mine to market, I’m personally skeptical of this. In my opinion, if left in the wrong hands, one company taking over the entire process could lead to more unchecked exploitation and monopolisation of resources.
On the other hand, one company overseeing the entire process would make them more accountable for whatever happens during any stage of the production process. They will have to closely monitor the production as they are entirely responsible for it, and cannot blame any 3rd party should something go wrong. A close relationship between miners and buyers built on mutual trust creates a foundation for fair trade.
By involving miners and cutters in community development, they will be able to see how their work has provided financial security to their community, thus contributing to their needs. This gives them confidence to forge and continue their relationships with trusted buyers and ensuring financial security in the long run.
Lastly, as consumers, we must educate ourselves on the supply chain. By doing research on the mines and manufacturing details, we can make more informed choices when choosing to purchase our jewellery. I hope this post gave you some insight into the supply chain and how bottom-up solutions can be effective in long-term community building and development.
♡, Qystina
Sources:
Archuleta, J. L. (2016). The Color Of Responsibility: Ethical Issues And Solutions In Colored Gemstones. Gems & Gemology, Gemological Institute of America.
Diamond Commodity Chain. (n.d.). The Ohio State University. Retrieved October 12, 2020, from https://u.osu.edu/diamondscarlsoncaggiano/impacts/
Mathhams, K. (2020, July 29). Sustainable Mining: ‘The Handprint Is Just As Important As The Footprint’. Forbes. Retrieved October 13, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/katematthams/2020/07/29/sustainable-mining-handprint-as-important-as-footprint/?sh=1766ba403570
Mcfarlane, M., Tallontire, A., & Martin, A. (2003). Towards an Ethical Jewellery Business. Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich.