CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has launched a new Web site, located at www.sustainablejewellery.org, which is designed to provide information about the jewelry sector’s responsibility when it comes to corporate responsibility, as well as the role of the industry in promoting sustainable economic and social development in the countries in which it is active.

The site was launched on Oct. 29 to coincide with a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, where CIBJO representatives and UN officials discussed the issues of corporate responsibility and sustainable development. The meeting was part of an ongoing liaison program with the United Nations, following CIBJO’s acceptance in 2006 as an NGO with consultative status to the UN’s Economic and Social Council.

“The Web site is not only intended to act as a source of information for our industry about what we can do, but it also will inform both our members and the world about what is actually being at the grass roots level,” explained CIBJO’s president Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri.

The heart of the Web site is the “Industry Case Studies” section. It describes 16 grass roots projects taking place in countries around the world. “The ‘Industry Case Studies’ section is a work in progress, and the number of projects listed should grow,” Cavalieri said. “We are talking about a living document, and sincerely hope that the exposure that www.sustainablejewellery.org provides will encourage other members of our industry to do the right thing.”

The Web site’s extensive “Media” section provides both information and pointers to journalists looking to write about the jewellery sector as a positive force in promoting sustainable development. It makes available for downloading a wealth of information, including relevant documents, speeches and presentations by industry officials and political and economic leaders, as well as photographs in high resolution.

JCK