FTJCo Fine Jewellery is First Retailer in Canada Accredited to Carry SCS-007 Sustainability Rated Diamonds
FTJCo Fine Jewellery is the first retailer in Canada to become accredited under the SCS 007 Sustainability Rated Diamond Standard for Trial Use. As an accredited retailer, FTJCo is approved to sell and fully represent Certified Sustainability Rated Diamonds online as well as in its retail studio in Toronto. The FTJCo accreditation was confirmed by a neutral third-party certifier, SCS Global Services.
The Sustainability Rated Diamond certification program applies to both natural and laboratory grown gemstone-quality diamonds. The program provides unparalleled transparency and due diligence around the environmental and ethical performance of diamond producers and handlers. In addition, it provides the highest level of diamond origin traceability assurance. Finally, it incorporates quantitative metrics to ensure that producers move rapidly toward full climate neutrality and net zero impacts in other measures of environmental performance. As the last link in the chain of custody, FTJCo directly connects its customers with diamonds that have been certified through this exhaustive process.
“We are proud to partner with SCS on this new sustainability standard for diamonds,” said Robin Gambhir, CEO of FTJCo. “We have a fifteen-year history of pioneering work in supply chains and responsible sourcing. Every piece worn by an FTJCo client represents a point along this journey. We thank each one of our past and future clients for making a purchase that reflects their social and environmental values. Through our long-time partner, WD Diamonds, we have a stock of lab grown diamonds that are sustainability rated and certified as climate neutral under this standard.”
“FTJCo has demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment to sustainability over the years, both in word and deed,” said Stanley Mathuram, Executive Vice President at SCS Global Services. “As an accredited retailer of Certified Sustainability Rated Diamonds, FTJCo will enable shoppers in Canada, the U.S. and beyond to benefit from and be a direct part of this leadership initiative.”
Certified Sustainability Rated Diamonds are independently evaluated against the requirements of the SCS-007 standard, the first comprehensive, multi-stakeholder sustainability standard developed for the gemstone-quality diamond sector. These requirements address Verified Origin Traceability, Ethical Stewardship, Climate Neutrality, and Sustainable Production Practices. In addition, diamond producers make Sustainability Investments to support the lives and livelihoods of artisanal and small-scale miners and mining communities, and to tackle urgent environmental problems.
The standard development process was overseen by SCS Standards Development, a non-profit standard setting body. The standard development committee involved a cross-section of stakeholders representing diamond producers, handlers, academic experts, origin verification technology providers, and civil society, and included public comment.
About FTJCo Fine Jewellery
FTJCo Fine Jewellery, founded as the Fair Trade Jewellery Company, is a pioneer in responsibly sourced gold, gems and diamonds dating back to 2006. Certified as a B Corp and by the Responsible Jewellery Council, the company was the first jeweller in North America to offer Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. The company has spent years working in supply chains to constantly improve its sourcing standards. In 2017, working with Canadian NGO IMPACT, the company completed the first legal export of gold to North America from a conflict-affected area – work praised by Human Rights Watch and featured in The Shadow of Gold documentary. The company is currently working to build validated and certified diamond supply chains that provide a more equitable value distribution. For more about FTJCo, visit www.ftjco.com/sustainability.
About SCS Global Services and SCS Standards Development
SCS Global Services is an internationally recognized leader in third-party certification of environmental and sustainability claims. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. It is the certification arm of Scientific Certification Systems, Inc., a chartered benefit corporation. Additional information is available at www.scsglobalservices.com/services/certified-sustainability-rated-diamond.
SCS Standards Development is a non-profit organization committed to the development of standards that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Standards are developed in alignment with best practices and guidelines provided by internationally recognized bodies to ensure a robust, transparent and collaborative approach. SCS Standards is the official standards development body for Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. For more information, visit www.SCSstandardsdevelopment.org.