Cartier, Kering and RJC launch ‘watch & jewellery initiative 2030’

Driven by a common conviction that the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aspirations for a sustainable industry can only be achieved through collaborative initiatives, Cartier, delegated by Richemont, and Kering, in partnership with the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), have come together to broaden and strengthen their action, launching the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030.

The initiative welcomes all watch and jewellery brands with a national and international footprint willing to commit to a set of ambitious and common objectives in three areas: building climate resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness.

For the first time in the industry, the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 aims at bringing together watches and jewellery brands across the globe to begin a collective journey towards a low-carbon future and ensure the industry creates positive outcomes for the planet and for people.

Standing at the crossroads of environmental considerations and the ambition to strengthen positive impacts for people all along the value chain, the commitments supported by the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 lie at the very heart of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with the initiative itself contributing to Goal 17, “partnerships for the goals.”

The initiative builds on strong, existing initiatives and organisations in the industry, such as the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and Science Based Targets (SBT) and includes newer areas of focus such as science-based climate targets, biodiversity protection and materials and business model innovation, with the intent of encouraging and enabling industry transformation and innovation.

The initiative is open to all watch and jewellery players with a national or international footprint that commit to dedicating their resources and energy to continuous improvement on sustainable business topics, and to developing a vision of excellence for the industry, no matter their starting point, market segment or position in the value chain.

“As the watch and jewellery sector relies on the earth’s precious resources and people’s know-how around the world within its value chains, the imperative to act together in creating a more positive impact has become ever clearer. We are thrilled to join efforts towards a more sustainable industry together with Kering, in partnership with the Responsible Jewellery Council, and to invite other industry actors to join this initiative. More than ever, we remain committed to share our common vision of a future where all Maisons, their suppliers and business partners are empowered to collaborate on projects that deliver positive impact on the planet and its people”, said Cyrille Vigneron, President and CEO of Cartier.

“At Kering, we believe that luxury is inseparable from the highest environmental and social standards, and that it is our responsibility, as leading luxury players, to initiate the changes that are needed to protect our planet. We have long been convinced that only collective action can make the difference to transform our industry for the better. For watch and jewellery just like for fashion, we believe that committing collectively to a common core of quantified environmental objectives focusing on a few themes is the best way to really have an impact. The changes we are fighting for are essential for the future not only of the planet but of our industry itself”, said Jean-François Palus, Group Managing Director of Kering.

Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director of Responsible Jewellery Council, shared her vision for the joint initiative, “The 2030 Agenda is about leaving no one behind. Business can be a force for positive change and impact by supporting a global economy that protects people, the planet and the natural systems that sustain us. Business as usual is no longer an option. The RJC is determined to help business be a force for that change through transformative partnerships. By working together we can greatly contribute to the urgent change needed to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the Decade of Action, and create a better fairer world by 2030. As part of the RJC Roadmap 2030 strategy, designed to deliver immediate and long-term impacts, RJC will continue to seek innovative partnerships to accelerate change and enable action throughout the global jewellery and watch supply chain – this is our promise to future generations.”

While focusing on three thematic priorities – building climate resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness, the initiative strongly commits to transparency with the requirement to report on progress on a regular basis. It will also support members in meeting growing expectations of stakeholders, including consumers, civil society, and regulators, of exemplary environmental, social and ethical practices.