Eco-friendly hues, innovations in green technology, and approaches for recycling waste materials.
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), a global organisation promoting sustainability in the jewellery sector, has taken root in Italy over the last 15 years, with around 3,000 companies worldwide adhering to its principles. Approximately 15% of these companies are based in Italy, amounting to over 300 businesses.
One such Italian company, Marco Bicego, based in Vicenza, is a member of the RJC and prioritises sustainability throughout its operations. Bicego's company controls its entire internal supply chain, ensuring that suppliers hold sustainability certificates. The company also sources certified gold from the London Bullion Market Association.
Another notable Italian company, Btt Impianti, specialises in recovering precious metals from electronic waste using a sustainable, hydrometallurgical process. Iren, an energy company, manages Btt Impianti's first plant located in Terranuova Bracciolini, Arezzo. Btt Impianti avoids any type of extraction, instead climbing mountains of waste, disassembling rather than burning, creating a unique value chain starting from the trash can.
The goldsmith-jewelry sector in Italy has two major national poles, Vicenza and Arezzo, where many RJC-certified companies are based. The sector's trade balance has also seen significant growth, with a surplus of 9.420 million euros recorded in the first 9 months of 2024, a +55.8% increase compared to the surplus recorded in the same period of 2023.
Fabiani, a company with stores throughout Italy, buys gold exclusively from Italian producers who hold sustainability certificates, primarily from the districts of Vicenza and Arezzo. The company also sources diamonds sustainably, buying loose diamonds and assembling them, ensuring they meet certain standards and do not originate from conflict zones.
The RJC's 2024 Code of Practices (COP), effective since January 2025, sets comprehensive requirements for companies to adopt responsible practices, including legal compliance, human rights due diligence, anti-corruption, and community support, as well as responsible labor practices, environmental protection, efficient natural resource use, and transparency in product claims and responsible mining.
The Chain of Custody (COC) standard certifies traceability and responsible sourcing of precious metals, which is a critical value add for Italian jewelry brands on the international market. This certification helps Italian manufacturers differentiate their products and build consumer trust by proving ethical sourcing and processing along the entire supply chain.
With consumer and industry demand increasingly focused on ethical and sustainable luxury goods, RJC certification provides Italian jewelers with a credible assurance that their supply chains are responsibly managed, promoting brand integrity and market access. This alignment with RJC principles enhances Italy's reputation as a leader in responsible luxury jewelry, meeting both regulatory and consumer demands for sustainability and transparency.
Stefano De Pascale, director of Confindustria-Federorafi, stated that the goldsmith-jewelry sector is at the forefront in terms of sustainability, with the RJC playing a significant and increasingly influential role in promoting sustainability throughout the supply chain. This commitment to sustainability is evident in events like Vicenzaoro, which highlights not only Italian design and craftsmanship but also growing attention to sustainability certifications such as the RJC.
- The science of environmental-science is crucial in ensuring the sustainability of companies like Marco Bicego and Btt Impianti, as they strive to reduce their environmental footprint and adopt responsible practices in the jewellery sector.
- The field of finance plays a pivotal role in the business strategy of companies such as Fabiani, as they invest in purchasing gold and diamonds from suppliers who hold sustainability certificates, thereby aligning with the RJC's Code of Practices.
- The technological advancements in hydrometallurgical processes, as employed by Btt Impianti, contribute to the recycling of precious metals from electronic waste in a sustainable manner, aligning with the RJC's commitment to responsible mining and efficient natural resource use.
