After years of development, the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) announced on Monday the completion of its new standards for ethical and sustainable practices in the lab-grown diamond and colored gemstone industry. The guidelines, known as the Laboratory Grown Materials Standard (LGMS), will be available on the RJC website starting February 25 and will eventually become mandatory for all RJC members.
The LGMS aims to ensure that jewelry made with lab-grown materials aligns with ethical and environmental principles. In a statement, RJC emphasized that the standard is designed to protect both people and the planet.
“Our mission at RJC is to promote responsible business practices from laboratory or mine to retail,” said RJC Chairman Dave Meleski. “With the LGMS, we are not just setting a standard; we are setting a vision for a future where elegance and ethics go hand in hand. We believe that every diamond, whether mined or lab-grown, can be celebrated without compromising our values.”
The RJC began developing the guidelines in 2021 and consulted its members during the drafting process. The standards cover a wide range of business practices, including legal compliance, management systems, due diligence, human rights, labor rights, working conditions, health and safety, appraisal and grading, disclosure, and environmental management.
“Our mission is to create a trustworthy environment where buyers and sellers can engage with confidence,” said RJC Interim Executive Director John Hall. “By implementing our LGMS, we aim to ensure only best practices from laboratory to consumer.”
The LGMS will be voluntary for the first year, allowing members time to adapt to the new requirements. After this transitional period, compliance will become mandatory for all RJC members involved in lab-grown materials.
To support its members, the RJC will offer optional training and educational resources, as well as streamlined auditing processes. These tools will help businesses meet the new standard while adhering to the RJC’s existing code of practices.
The introduction of the LGMS reflects the RJC’s commitment to transparency in the jewelry supply chain. Members will be required to establish strong management systems to ensure a clear and traceable supply chain. Additionally, the standard mandates that members document and implement technical requirements at every stage of their processes to safeguard workers, communities, and consumers.
With these new guidelines, the RJC aims to build consumer trust and promote ethical practices across the lab-grown diamond and gemstone industry.
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