Essentially, the new system will simplify the consumer label for gold, platinum and silver which is certified by the Fairtrade Foundation. It will  be described and marked as simply ‘Fairtrade.’  This consumer label is well-known in the UK and is the same one which is applied to other Fairtrade certified products.

The Fairmined label will continue to be operated independently by ARM, to achieve the mass balance situation which was felt to be appropriate for their miners. The gold will continue to be sold with a premium as before.

Fairtrade certified gold will continue to be produced and monitored under the standards of the Fairtrade Foundation and FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisation). Fair Mined gold will continue to be produced under the standards created by ARM. Licence holders may choose to offer either or both products to consumers.

More detailed information is available here:

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/april_2013/simpler_labelling_for_fairtrade_gold.aspx?printversion=true

http://www.fairjewelry.org/fair-trade-organization-flo-and-alliance-for-responsible-mining-arm-do-not-renew-contract-splitting-the-fairtradefairmined-label/

http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-12850-qampagreg-valerio-on-changes-to-the-fairtrade-label/

To find out more about fashion brands, including information about their rank in ethical performance or traceability here are a few useful links:

http://www.ethicalfashionforum.com/

http://www.trackmyt.com/

www.GoodGuide.com

For some of the most cutting edge British ethical fashion follow this link or check out some of our fashion stockists:

the Natural Store and Fashion Conscience

As a brand which operates in the space of being ethical and transparent, Fifi Bijoux has always maintained the position of delivery products of exceptional quality whilst knowing our supply chain back to front. (I can tell you the names of the miners who found your gem or gold in some cases). It’s not enough that you fall in love with the designs… Fifi wants you to fall in love with the  stories of our producers and know the joy which is infused into every piece created.

However, we remain the exception not the rule in jewellery and consumer goods and I’m often asked to help other brands to understand their supply chains and where the ‘hot spots’ exist . This means isolating the potential for risk to reputation which would come about if they were linked to a disaster such as the recent Bangladesh / Primark scandal. Having worked in the jewellery industry for 15 years, I know how complex the supply chains can be and am realistic about the scale of control a company has over its suppliers relative to the size of their business. Out -sourcing remains one of the pressing issues; where the company contracted to do the work actually sub-contracts to another supplier, factory or inviduals who never appear on any communications between the company and its direct supplier. These ‘hidden suppliers’ can cause real threats and problems; in some cases to the quality or integrity of the finished product and in others to the values of the brand (which may wish to avoid sweat shop labour or seek to prevent exploitation for example).

There’s a generally accepted rule that the brand or the supplier at the end of the chain must take responsibility for the final ethical position (because this is commonly where the largest profit margin will be gained). However, I was interested to read this article in the Telegraph today which holds consumers as equally responsible in these disasters, through their demand for cheap ‘fast fashion’ goods.

That’s interesting; but how do consumers know what questions to ask? Who is responsible for educating the consumers?

What strikes me is that its all too simple to keep passing the buck and pushing these issues up and down the value chain. But I don’t agree the consumers are actually responsible here. I’d like to ask the shareholders what they’ve been doing. It needs to become culturally unacceptable to purchase, produce or invest in goods produced at the expense of anothers life or well-being. If we could focus on changing behaviours rather than trying to justify the unacceptable, economic development and progress would follow in a sustainable and enduring manner.

I’m often told Fifi Bijoux products cost more than jewellery items in certain high-street retailers. They do. That’s simply because we carefully source each and every gem stone and diamond as the treasures from the earth they are. We take great trouble to ensure the provenance and integrity; and that each person within that supply chain is dealt an equitable price (as well as our environmental policy; which is also meticulously considered). Then  each piece of jewellery  is made in the UK, by craftsmen and women who know the quality we expect and go to great length to create the most beautiful translations of our designs with exacting precision and attention to detail. That does cost more.  We learn about our customers likes and dislikes.  Listening is important. We make jewellery to lasts a lifetime, and which will passed on for generations. When consumers become disengaged from the products they buy, how can they be responsible for the outcomes or negative impacts ? Life is about relationships; with people, with beauty and with objects.  My own rule of thumb for shopping- unless you fall a little bit in love, unless it makes your heart skip a beat, and unless it’s origins give you a warm glow, leave it on the shelf.

]]> http://www.fifibijoux.com/2013/04/are-consumers-responsible-for-bangladesh-deaths/feed/ 0 http://www.fifibijoux.com/2013/04/vivien-johnston-of-fifi-bijoux-named-one-of-the-future-50-young-social-entrepreneurs-for-2013/ http://www.fifibijoux.com/2013/04/vivien-johnston-of-fifi-bijoux-named-one-of-the-future-50-young-social-entrepreneurs-for-2013/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:37:36 +0000 vivien http://www.fifibijoux.com/?p=1188

PRESS RELEASE

Vivien Johnston of Fifi Bijoux named one of the

Future 50 Young Social Entrepreneurs for 2013

Vivien Johnston, founder and Managing Director of Fifi Bijoux is announced as one of the Future 50 Young Social Entrepreneurs of the Year during a reception hosted by Ernst & Young and organised by Striding Out CIC.

The Future 50 Awards, part of the Future 100 programme organised by Striding Out CIC, puts the spotlight on young entrepreneurs aged 20-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in running a responsible business venture; one which demonstrates a balance between economic, environmental and social goals to achieve ultimate business success.

The Future 50 are invited to join the Ernst & Young Accelerate network giving them access to skilled business support through a series of networking and learning events.

Fifi Bijoux is a fine jewellery business founded in 2006. Founder and jewellery designer Vivien Johnston is dedicated to using precious metals, diamonds and gems exclusively from traceable, socially and environmentally responsible sources.

In 2011, Fifi Bijoux received a license from the Fairtrade Foundation to certify compliant products as Fair Trade Eco. Fifi Bijoux was also the first retail signatory of the Fair Gems Process and is a licence holder for fully traceable diamonds from the Jeweltree Foundation.

At the heart of Fifi Bijoux is their commitment to supporting small scale miners who commit to extract in the most environmentally responsible way. This means that each and every jewel is carefully sourced and selected and designs are

created to ensure the result is a piece of jewellery customers can be truly proud to wear.

Vivien said, “I’m thrilled to be named as one of the Future 50. It’s so valuable to have the commitment I’ve made to operating my business as a responsible venture recognised. Precious materials are a valuable natural resource and I believe that by imbuing each product with respect (from mine through to design and in our workshop) my customers takes pride in owning a piece of jewellery which reflects the precious, exquisite nature of the materials we use.”

Chief Executive of Striding Out and organiser of the Future 50 awards and the Future 100 programme, Elaine Owen FRSA said: “The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns.”

Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We are profiling the ‘Future 50′ young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improve commerce’s impact on the wider world.”

The Future 50 awards encourage and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems.

The Future 50 Awards is part of the Future 100 programme organized by Striding Out CIC www.stridingout.co.uk, a national social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.

ENDS

For Further Information

An Awards reception is taking place on 23/05/13 at the Ernst & Young, 1 More Place Offices in London. The press are invited to register to attend to interview winners.

To register to attend the event please register here: http://future50.eventbrite.com/

Fifi Bijoux- www.fifibijoux.com- for further information please email admin@fifibijoux.com

Accelerate- www.ey.com\Accelerate – for further information please email accelerate@uk.ey.com

Future 50 – www.future50.co.uk – A full list of award winners can be found on the website..

Future 100 – www.future100.co.uk – A full list of previous award winners

Striding Out - www.stridingout.co.uk – For further information, please contact Donna Costello Communications Coordinator of Striding Out on 0151 245 0227 or email donna@stridingout.co.uk

http://www.cibjo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=595:the-case-for-adopting-procedures-to-encourage-csr-in-the-international-jewellery-industry&catid=37:voices-of-cibjo&Itemid=252

We can also discuss the options for gold or platinum (all Fairtrade!) and if you would like to use ethical diamonds, coloured gemstones or even pearls or opals in your design.

Fifi Bijoux offers a custom made engagement ring service. At each stage you’ll be consulted about the progress of the design to make sure the outcome will have the WOW factor you’re looking for!

Here are just a few of the comments from our previous customers:

Deciding to propose  to someone is a huge and exciting life event. But as if that’s not momentous enough, it’s also traditional to do so (or follow closely after!) with an engagement ring. This shows the world you mean business; it’s a visual statement about the strength of your relationship and a pledge to your beloved that you intend to commit to a life of love together.

It’s also a source of enormous pride for many of our customers- both for the challenge it presents in getting it right and being able to provide a valuable and beautiful piece of jewellery which will be treasured for life- as well as the pride taken in wearing something so precious and unique and knowing the positive contribution you’ve made to the very special projects with which we work.

At Fifi Bijoux we have successfully navigated hundreds of happy couples through the waters of choosing THE ring.  One question which is often asked is ‘How much should I be spending on an engagement ring?’.

Now, the old tale is that  1 to 3 months salary is a good rule of thumb. However, we’ve also been asked ‘before or after tax?!’ and it’s true that it can be difficult to pin it down to an exact formula.

So, here is our advice for what it’s worth: spend what you feel comfortable spending and what you can afford. (That’s usually somewhere between ‘all your savings’ and ‘don’t get into debt’).

…….Yes, yes, we’re rubbish at the old hard sell.. we know..but it’s just not Fifi Bijoux style! ……..

We don’t want to make our customers sweat and suffer panic attacks when it comes to choosing a ring. Forget that, it should be a fun and  pleasant experience. In fact, to make things as transparent as possible we’ve even created the Flawless Proposal guides, which you can download for free.

Back to what to spend. Well, it helps to have some realistic goals. If you’ve set your heart on a classic large diamond solitaire ring in platinum then expect a price tag which reflects this (for example, at time of writing you should consider a budget of at least £2500).

If you’re a bit adventurous and would like an unusual engagement ring, we can play with some ideas with you. There are lots of options, for example combining small diamond with larger coloured gemstones, or creating a ring in 18ct or 9ct gold as an alternative. This could be from as little as £500.

Even better, we make it hurt a little less by offering a 2 or even 3 payment installment plan and we can process credit cards securely.

If you can tell us the price range you have in mind, we can usually suggest something suitable. It’s important to us that our customers feel comfortable and enjoy the experience.

Fifi Bijoux is a design brand, so we can create a custom made engagement ring and give you a bespoke design service if that’s a personal touch you think your beloved would appreciate.  We’ll work with your ideas and feedback throughout the process and make sure that the finished ring is sure to have the WOW factor. (Read some of our customers comments here).

Alternatively, look through our collection of ready to wear designs (but we can modify those too if you like, we’re pretty flexible!).

Fifi Bijoux is a member of the British Jewellers Association and the Federation of Small Businesses. We’ve also won several awards for our work, including Young Social Entrepreneur 2011, Professional Jeweller Hot 100 Trailblazer 2012 and some others which we’ll tell you all about if you’re interested.

Here are a few more useful links:

Gemological Institute of America ‘ How to Choose a Diamond’ (You Tube Movie)

Jeweltree – Our ‘Track and Trace’ diamond certification body

Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold (Fairtrade Foundation)

NEWS RELEASE: GOLD PAPER LAUNCH CALLS FOR UK JEWELLERS TO TAKE THE LEAD ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Industry leaders from all sectors of the retail fraternity have praised the launch of the National Association of Goldsmiths (N.A.G.) and British Jewellers’ Association’s (BJA) Gold Paper as the first of many steps in analysing and improving the way the UK sources and supplies precious metals. The paper, which was formulated as an informed response to Dispatches “Dirty Gold” programme, hits back at the notion that the jewellery industry is not taking a lead in the ethical sourcing of one of its primary raw materials.

The 39 page report details current practices and policies used by refineries, suppliers, retailers, NGOs and banks to regulate and monitor the movement and provenance of gold within the UK supply chain. Within the report is detailed analysis that reflects how the UK’s current policies, both imposed and self-policed, are taking great strides in ensuring gold can be traced back to a responsible source. However, it also reveals the industry needs to shore up its claims to social and ethical sourcing with transparency, traceability, and advanced communication across the entire supply chain.

The release of the report has been followed by a call to arms from both those involved in the formation of the report and leaders across the jewellery industry, appealing to all levels of the gold supply chain to take the lead a look at these recommendations and see how they can be applied.

Greg Valerio, founder of CRED Jewellery and the Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold initiatives and member of the Ethics Working Committee, said “the guiding principles that constitute any claim regarding ethical behaviour in the jewellery trade are transparency and traceability. Without this any claim is green wash. I recommend the BJA NAG Gold report to any jeweller who is serious about moving in the right ethical direction as its recommendations are good steps towards greater transparency and traceability for our businesses and for our customers.”

Valerio’s sentiments were backed up by Michael Allchin from the Birmingham Assay Office who spoke of the real need for an ethical supply chain in the UK. “The Gold Paper is a welcome new guide from the NAG and BJA’s Ethical Committee” says Allchin.

“It gives us an informative overview of the gold supply chain and the key players, including NGO’s, active in this field. It helpfully summarises the current state of play on the definition and sources of ‘ethical’ jewellery through various different chain of custody programmes.”

Allchin went on to say, “Most importantly it also gives us ten recommendations to put into practice in our own businesses. These ensure we are doing the best we can to source clean gold, and that each of us in our own small way contributes to the wellbeing of poor and disadvantaged communities, and to the conservation of the precious resources of our planet.”

Simon Rainer of the BJA, one of the founding-fathers of the committee was similarly in tune with Valerio and Allchin, saying “Too often our industry is accused of being reactive. The Gold Paper is a positive step forward in communicating that we essentially work in a very responsible manner. However, there are still improvements to be made and I commend the 10 point recommendation summary to all of those wishing to learn more about the responsible sourcing of gold.”

Whilst Allchin, Rainer, and Valerio strongly endorse the implementation of these recommendations, Vivien Johnston, Committee Chair and founder of ethical jewellery brand Fifi Bijoux, takes a distinctly pragmatic view, saying “One of the key discussion points which arose at the launch seminar of The Gold Paper was around the demands jewellers can realistically place on their suppliers for evidence of responsible sourcing. We highlighted the need for better communication between jewellers and those refiners who have already made progress in careful sourcing, which go some way to ensuring their activities don’t damage the environment or human lives.”

Vivien went on to say, “What is very evident is that these conversations need to take place frequently and regularly to improve the industries understanding of the critical issues surrounding gold mining and supply chains overall, in order for it to be more responsive, mindful and able to meet consumer expectations of how we conduct our businesses here in the UK”

Vivien’s cautious, yet optimistic view was one shared with N.A.G. CEO Michael Hoare, who started the Ethics Working Committee in 2010. Hoare stated, “The plethora of initiatives in the gold supply chain can be perplexing for retailers and from the outset it was our intention to come up with some straightforward guidance that cut through the rhetoric. We strongly believe the recommendations in the report will go some way to clearing these muddied waters. These are only the first of many new steps the industry needs to take to get its house in order.”

“However,” says Hoare, “this all depends on jewellers out there taking up the baton of social responsibility and running with it.”

The Gold Paper is free of charge and is now available on request from the N.A.G. and BJA or online on the NAG blog and the BJA website.

-Text Ends-

Check it out here: http://www.olive-reg.com/