High End Firms Talk CSR as Chopard Joins RJC Certified Members List

(IDEX Online News) – Swiss-based luxury watch and jewelry house Chopard has become the 151^st company to receive certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). News of the company’s successful accreditation was given at a media update at Baselworld Wednesday.

Raffaella Rossiello, the international communication director for Chopard, explained that the certification journey had been both a challenge and quite complex. However, she said certification, as well as a focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, is a necessary part of the added value of luxury.

Chopard, she said, is making CSR “second nature,” thereby ensuring that the quality of its products correspond to the quality of its actions.

Pointing to recent actions, Rossiello said the company had built two new fully eco-friendly buildings, a course of action it will replicate in the future. In addition, Chopard is planning to implement a program of carbon offsetting at the motor races it sponsors. In partnership with the WWF, the company also supports the protection of wild tigers.

Other speakers at the update emphasized the growing importance of trust and responsibility in the industry. “It is our duty to offer our customers creations that are not only beautiful but are made in a responsible way,” said Nawal Aït-Hocine, corporate responsibility director of Cartier International. She said that becoming certified was also good for the company’s bottom line. “It helps enhance and preserve a strong brand reputation.”

Luisa La Via, CSR and internal communication executive director at Bulgari said gaining certification, while important, was not the end of the road. It was an opportunity to get better knowledge of your company and a great opportunity to take an ethical health check of the business. Certification, though, has to be included in a wider CSR strategy. “It is fundamental to know your own CSR reality,” she said.

RJC and the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) will present an industry briefing titled “Do you know where your gold comes from? RJC Chain of Custody and LBMA Responsible Gold: providing support for supply chain due diligence” at 2pm today (Thursday). The briefing will take place in the ‘Samarkand’ room at the Congress Center.