Fair Trade and the Jewelry Industry: Establishing Standards for Suppliers

Every industry has standards to meet with regard to their products. When the process involves sourcing or manufacturing, it is of critical importance to know where all of your products come from, and the process with which they are collected or created. There is a great deal of responsibility attached to selecting reputable and ethical suppliers for raw materials. In the jewelry industry, this becomes a serious issue, especially with regard to gold and diamond purchasing. When working with a jeweler, make it a point to look for someone who values Fair Trade. What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade became necessary to combat unfair, unethical, and dangerous working conditions. In many countries the workers are exploited and treated with a blatant disregard for their well-being. They are under-compensated and allowed to live in poverty and unsanitary conditions, while the companies use and abuse their workers. Fair Trade is an agreement to purchase only from companies that demonstrate ethical and transparent business practices. Fair Trade protects the health and well-being of workers, and the goal is to reduce the level of poverty in the regions that produce diamonds, gold, and many other products that we use as consumers. Why is Fair Trade important in the jewelry industry? Diamonds and gold are mined only in certain areas of the world. Ironically, those areas also happen to be amongst the poorest in the world. As the workers are mistreated and underpaid, the jewelry industry has placed standards on the mining of gold and diamonds, establishing an acceptable level of performance. The recommendation is that jewelers partner and select to do business with others who have similar values and ethics in the fair treatment of their employees. By following the standards, we become part of the solution and put pressure on unethical and dangerous employers to change the way they operate. By raising the standards, a statement is made on what is acceptable and unacceptable. The ethical employers will be rewarded, and the unethical will have to change the way they do business in order to continue to be profitable. Mining can be both particularly dangerous and profitable, making the jewelry industry vulnerable to unethical suppliers. Fair Trade encourages a fair portion of the profit to return to the miners and diggers who go out every day and work to find beautiful diamonds.

Why should you choose a Fair Trade jeweler? A lot of consumers may see the Fair Trade label on coffee, which is where it is most visible, but many don’t even think to question where their jewelry pieces come from. Would you feel differently about wearing a beautiful piece if you knew where it came from? Would you feel comfortable buying pieces that originated in unhealthy and unsafe environments? Would you buy from suppliers who purposely mistreated and endangered their employees? Most would say no and would look for a jeweler that works with ethical and honest suppliers. By making it a point to only work with Fair Trade jewelers, you are making a statement that you will not support the unethical employment practices used by some. Feel good about the jewelry you wear and insist on a jeweler who also values those ethical standards.

by KellyQDesign.
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When we select a piece of jewelry, it is because it symbolizes something for us. Jewelry is special and meant to last a lifetime. Work with a jeweler who understands the significance of this and who values the ethical standards represented by Fair Trade. For too long the unethical and unsafe employers profited from the hard work of underpaid employees in economically depressed and impoverished countries. Fair Trade jewelers, such as Finch Jewelers, have chosen to take a stand against these suppliers and purchase only from transparent and legitimate suppliers. As a customer, you have the same power to demand that your diamonds come only from reputable sources. Make your statement in the world and look for the Fair Trade label in your purchases. Don’t just settle for any jeweler and any diamond. Look for a jeweler who believes in the responsible treatment of others and holds their suppliers accountable. Your purchase of Fair Trade diamonds could mean a significant impact.