Looking Forward: Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conf. 2024
The content of this article reflects the views of the writer, and not necessarily those of Ethical Metalsmiths. This article was written for The Source.
The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference logo banner. Photo courtesy of the CRJC website.
Have you ever attended (in person or virtually) the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference (CRJC)?
If not, I’d definitely recommend it, as it is an intensive dive into important topics that rarely get discussed in the jewelry and gem industry.
Ethical Metalsmiths meetup at CRJC 2023. Photo courtesy of Will Alderfer.
Here’s what you can look forward to during this year’s conference, which will be hosted next to the InStore show in Rosemont, Illinois (full disclosure: descriptions courtesy of the CRJC website)…
Go Global with planetGOLD:
Discover how this United Nations-led initiative is eliminating mercury use in gold mining across 25 countries. Learn about their innovative solutions and the impact they're making on communities worldwide.
Ways Planet Gold is working to help miners eliminate mercury use. Photo from the Planet Gold website.
PeaceGold™: A Game Changer
Jewelry industry veteran Greg Valerio unveils his groundbreaking social enterprise, PeaceGold™. This DRC-based project offers a unique approach to responsible and traceable gold sourcing.
Rethinking Gold: Regenerative Solutions with Mejuri and Resolve
Join Mejuri and RESOLVE as they discuss how recovering gold from legacy mines is being used in Mejuri’s jewelry collections. Mejuri is a founding partner of Regeneration, a social enterprise focused on reviving legacy and abandoned mining sites through regenerative methods while concurrently restoring surrounding habitats and ecosystems. Regeneration was created by Resolve, who thought outside of the box to tackle the serious and growing problem of tailings ponds.
Producing responsibly sourced minerals while transforming abandoned mines into ecological assets. Photo courtesy of the Resolve website.
Unearthing Fair Pay: How Colored Gemstone Workers Get Paid
How does fair compensation reach artisanal mine workers? The jewelry industry faces the challenge of understanding the complexities of ASM labor structures, including how a living wage is defined and implemented. Join our panel of seasoned gemstone professionals from the US to Malawi for an insider's perspective on pay structures in colored gemstone mines!
Beyond the 10%: Equity in the Diamond Market
While large diamond companies dominate discussions, they make up only 10% of the diamond industry—the rest is ASM (artisanal and small-scale mining). The door is open for a short period of time and presents a crucial opportunity to shape a more transparent and verifiable diamond supply chain, particularly in the wake of sanctions on Russian diamonds. It's a 'build back better' moment for African diamond producers, many of whom haven't fully benefited from their resources. How can we create a more equitable system? Our panel features experts from a diamond cutting center in Gabon, representatives from Ghana and Lesotho, and innovators exploring alternative blockchain solutions beyond Tracr and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KP Framework).
In the Shadow of Plenty: Human Rights at the Gem Diamond Mine
In the shadow of the Maluti Mountains, Lesotho, where miners unearth some of the world's largest diamonds, a Basotho herding community struggles for basic needs. Healthcare, education, and electricity remain elusive, despite the presence of the Gem Diamonds Letseng mine, which is accused of human rights violations in the form of water pollution. Thabo Lerotholi, a civil rights lawyer and founder of the Maluti Community Development Forum (MCDF, which is also a member of the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KPCSC) for Lesotho), will share his experiences advocating for these communities and their fight for justice against alleged human rights violations.
The day after all of these informative panels and presentations, in-person attendees get to shop at the “Gem Boutique” which is free to attend and runs from 10am-4pm on Sunday, August 11th. At the boutique you will meet several gemstone supplier companies that promote responsible supply chains and transparency. Be sure to check the CRJC website in the next few weeks for the finalized list of vendors.
Looking at a gem at the Gem Boutique. Photo courtesy of Ana Brazaityte.
Speaking from personal experience, participating in CRJC (a mix of in person and online due to COVID) over the past few years has been a powerful way for me to become more educated on issues and their potential solutions that span our whole industry. With our busy careers and lives, it can be hard to find the time to educate ourselves on the ever-evolving industry challenges and new positive-impact initiatives solely on our own. CRJC helps towards that educational end–but it can sometimes feel like a fire-hose of information, so I’d recommend coming (or watching) with a notebook or laptop at the ready. You never know what idea you might have after listening to one of the sessions, or after connecting with someone you meet there. After all, pioneering programs such as Moyo Gems had their genesis at this conference!
Oh, and one more thing: Your CRJC badge may be used to enter The Instore Show trade show floor!
Have more questions about the conference? Contact susan@responsiblejewelrytransformative.com.
“We are a small team of passionate jewelry industry professionals and writers. We’d appreciate your support to grow our team and continue to be able to provide the best responsible jewelry content for years to come!”
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