Wal-Mart and Responsible Jewelry


We believe Wal-Mart can catalyze positive change in the way jewelry is produced - from mining to refining, polishing and cutting, and through to manufacturing - by promoting responsible practices in all the business activities in our jewelry supply chain. To this end, Wal-Mart has developed a responsible sourcing strategy with a vision to provide Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club customers with affordable, quality products that have a net positive effect on the environment and human health and well being.

We plan to achieve this vision by setting and continuously improving our responsible sourcing criteria and standards and requiring they are met by our business partners; over time building accountability into our supply chain and an independent verification system so we can be assured that these standards are met; and by continuing to engage with business and civil society leaders to disseminate best practices and acknowledge responsible businesses in the jewelry supply chain. Our goals are ambitious: in the long term we will source 100% of gold, silver and diamonds used in the jewelry sold in Wal-Mart from mines and produced by manufacturers that meet Wal-Mart’s responsible sourcing criteria. By 2010 we hope to have exceeded our target of 10% traceability of gold and silver and made considerable progress towards traceability of diamonds.

To get started, we have launched a responsible jewelry sourcing and traceability project and jewelry line called Love, Earth®. In addition we have started a number of other initiatives that embed principles for responsible practice into Wal-Mart’s and Sam’s Club’s jewelry divisions’ every day business, including: setting expectations for the reduction of waste generated; increasing the amount of recyclable materials in packaging; optimizing logistical arrangements in the transport of goods to our stores.


Responsible Mining Criteria


Wal-Mart’s responsible mining criteria include environmental, labor and social performance standards for mining. We have committed to a long term goal requiring all of our suppliers to meet these criteria. Wal-Mart developed these criteria with feedback and insight from mining companies, jewelry manufacturers, Wal-Mart’s sustainability experts, and NGOs. The criteria address not just compliance with laws and regulations, but extend to the management of environmental and social issues as they contribute to the sustainable development of the communities and regions touched by mining operations.



Next Steps

The launch of Love, Earth® jewelry line marked the implementation of the first phase of our strategy for responsible sourcing of jewelry at our stores. We have a long road ahead of us to achieve our vision of sourcing 100% of gold, silver and diamonds used in our jewelry from responsible mines and manufacturers. Some of our next steps include:


 

•  Continue to work with industry members, experts and NGOs to periodically review and, where appropriate, strengthen our responsible sourcing criteria.
•  Work to advance from a self-reporting to a third-party verification system for our mining company partners. We support and are involved with industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives including the Council for Responsible Jewelry Practices and the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance.
•  Recruit additional manufacturing, mining company and banking partners to join with us and support the vision of a responsible and accountable jewelry supply chain.