Part 1: Supplier Exploration

 

• Initiate an online search to identify potential suppliers.
• Once a prospective supplier with a proven record of traceability, association with mining communities, and transparent disclosures, has been identified, proceed to inquire about their reputation through trusted suppliers or activists.

 

Part 2: Supplier Inquiry

 

If the initial assessment is satisfactory, establish contact and pose the following inquiries:

 

1. Traceability and Source: Elaborate on your interpretation of traceability and ascertain if all sourced gemstones can be unequivocally traced to their origin.
2. Artisanal Miners and Fair Practices: Can you assure that all sourced gemstones are from small-scale artisanal miners, and that they are not subjected to exploitation?
3. Labor Standards: Can you guarantee the absence of child labor or forced labor at any stage of your supply chain?
4. Direct Engagement: Clarify whether you directly collaborate with miners or involve a third-party intermediary.
5. Fair Compensation: Do you provide fair compensation or premiums to the miners?
6. Community Involvement: Are you actively integrated into the mining communities?
7. Cutting Location: Where is the gemstone cutting carried out?
8. Cutter Welfare and Safety: Are there provisions for the safety and well-being of gemstone cutters?
9. Domestic Work: What proportion of the gemstone processing occurs within the mining country?
10. Educational Initiatives: Do you undertake projects to enhance gemstone-related knowledge within mining communities?
11. Environmental Stewardship: Describe the impact on the land during and post-mining activities.

 

Part 3: Ethical Evaluation

 

Upon comprehensive responses from the supplier, meticulously assess the overall impact on mining communities and the integrity of their practices. If the evaluation yields positive results, request the supplier to annually complete our due diligence form, or two share and sign their due diligence if the values align, and promptly notify us of any significant alterations in their supply chain.

 

Part 4: Sustaining Relationships

 

Nurturing supplier relationships is paramount. Regular communication and transparency in the form of information sharing, imagery, and videos are indispensable elements throughout the association. If a supplier fails to address the posed inquiries satisfactorily or is reluctant to openly divulge details concerning material sourcing and supply chain intricacies, the partnership must be terminated.