(PRESS RELEASE) The Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC) has released a revised version of its Chain of Custody (CoC) standard that will allow members to become certified for their silver supply chain, in addition to gold and platinum group metals.
The global standard-setting and certification organization for the entire jewelry supply chain has announced the expansion of its CoC standard scope to include silver.
RJC’s voluntary CoC standard was established in 2012, aiming to support claims for responsibly sourced jewelry materials, produced, processed and traded through the supply chain. It was relaunched in 2017 to incorporate changes including the due-diligence requirements that align with Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) five-step framework.
Companies in the jewelry and watch supply chain which trade in silver can now join the RJC and become certified against the mandatory Code of Practice standard as well as the voluntary Chain of Custody standard.
Around 150 certifications have been issued since the first CoC standard was launched. It’s available to all members who have been certified against the RJC’s Code of Practices.
An updated version of the Chain of Custody standard will be available to members from 30 January 2020.
Chairman of The Responsible Jewelry Council, David Bouffard said: “We are proud to be welcoming silver into our precious metal range. Our standard offers a tool for member companies to provide third-party certified traceability for silver, and reliable evidence of the source of material used. We believe this new addition will open doors for existing and new members to become certified against the Chain of Custody standard – and we look forward to welcoming them as RJC members.”
Executive Director of The Responsible Jewelry Council, Iris Van der Veken said: “Product integrity is at the heart of consumer confidence. Our standards are designed to support members, each step of the way. We have self-assessment toolkits, supportive documentation including standard guidance, contractor assessments, and a dedicated team to guide our members on their journey towards certification and continuous improvement.”
If you wish to be audited against the CoC standard for your silver supply chain, please contact one of the RJC accredited audit firms and book your independent third party audit.
Members who would like to know how to incorporate silver into their current CoC certification, please contact: consultation@responsiblejewellery.com
More information about the Chain of Custody standard can be found here.