Whether you are a retail jeweler, a diamond cutter, or a mining entity, understanding the RJC 2024 New Standards is crucial for future-proofing your business.
The global jewelry and watch industry is undergoing a significant transformation. As consumers increasingly demand transparency and ethical accountability, the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has stepped forward with its most comprehensive update yet. The RJC 2024 Code of Practices (COP) Guidance (Version 1.1, February 2025) sets a new benchmark for responsible business conduct across the entire supply chain.
Whether you are a retail jeweler, a diamond cutter, or a mining entity, understanding the RJC 2024 New Standards is crucial for future-proofing your business.
The RJC Code of Practices 2024 is a mandatory standard for all RJC commercial members. It defines the ethical, human rights, social, and environmental requirements that must be met to achieve RJC Certification. The latest version expands its scope to include gold, silver, platinum group metals (PGM), diamonds, and coloured gemstones (specifically rubies, sapphires, and emeralds).
The "Latest RJC Standards" introduce several critical areas reflecting modern global challenges:
The new guidance emphasizes rigorous Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). Companies must now identify, prevent, and mitigate adverse human rights impacts they might cause, contribute to, or be linked to through their business relationships. This aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
For the first time, there is a heavy emphasis on climate action. Members must annually quantify and document their Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions. Furthermore, those with significant emissions are required to set three-year reduction targets and have their data independently verified.
RJC 2024 introduces specific provisions for DEI. Beyond just non-discrimination, companies are encouraged to foster an inclusive workplace that actively promotes equity across all levels of the organization.
The standard provides updated frameworks for Responsible Mining, including sourcing from Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM). It requires due diligence to ensure materials do not originate from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs).
Addressing the circular economy, the standard covers sourcing from informal recyclers for post-consumer industrial precious metals, ensuring that "Recycled Materials" are handled with the same ethical rigor as mined ores.
While the COP focuses on business practices, the RJC Chain of Custody (CoC) standard works in tandem to provide a "Transparency" bridge. It allows companies to make claims about the "Responsible Sourcing" of their materials by tracking them through every stage of the supply chain—from the mine of origin to the final consumer product.
Undergoing an RJC 2024 Audit requires a robust internal management system. The RJC identifies eight essential mechanisms for successful implementation:
For the consumer, RJC COP and CoC Certification serves as a seal of trust. It ensures that the diamond on their finger or the watch on their wrist was not produced through child labor, did not fund armed conflict, and was manufactured with respect for the planet's limited natural resources.
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