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Founded in 1991, the Autore Group is one of the largest South Sea pearl companies in the world. From farming, grading, valuing, wholesaling, jewellery design and manufacturing to marketing, Autore is a dynamic, advanced and vertically integrated pearling group. Owning and operating 10 farm sites, the company sources its pearls directly from its South Sea pearl farms. Harvesting in excess of 350,000 pearls per annum, the Autore pearl farms are situated on some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines – from the crystal-clear waters off the North and Western coasts of Australia, in Broome and Elizabeth Bay, to the tropical islands of Indonesia, in Lombok, Sumbawa and West Java. The Autore Group headquarters are based in Sydney where South Sea pearls are graded by hand and eye in preparation for distribution to the world’s most prestigious jewellery houses and wholesalers. In addition to the preparation of loose pearl lots, 3,000 South Sea pearl strands per year are assembled from its Sydney headquarters, making Autore one of the largest distributors of South Sea pearls in the world. Autore Jewellery Design Division was established in 2001 as a specialist pearl jewellery design entity for the purpose of designing and manufacturing Autore jewellery. Autore is dedicated to various environmental commitments, including:
Conscious Farming – The Autore Group is MSC Certified Sustainable and is a member of The Pearl Producers Association (PPA). Within Australia, there is a quota system whereby a quota is allocated to each farming entity to ensure the sustainable fishing of wild Pinctada maxima oyster, conscious to guarantee an abundance of shell remaining in the wild.
Hatchery Focused – The Autore Group has a strong focus on hatchery-grown Pinctada maxima shell to minimise the necessity to fully use its quota for wild fishing. The additional benefit of hatchery-produced oysters is that it further promotes an increase of quantities in the wild, due to subsequent spawning which will be a natural result of the added shell in the ocean.
Marine Protection – The Autore Group Farms are located in remote and beautiful locations where pristine and abundant waters are its biggest asset. The oceans where the farms are located restrict commercial fishing, providing protection of the marine life and prevention of overfishing. The farming Infrastructure it uses in the ocean further provides substrates for marine life to grow and thrive, and attracts fish and sea organisms including marine flora, such as seaweed, and marine fauna including invertebrate and vertebrate species.
Reef Regeneration – Prior to The Autore Farms residing in these pristine waters, the areas of some of its farms were exposed to and destroyed by illegal fish bombing practices (dynamite fishing). Since moving to these areas, the company continuously invested and put resources towards rebuilding the reefs, propagating corals and other organisms, which in turn increases fish and sea life.
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Belmont Emeralds, located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has a rich history dating back to 1978 and has evolved into a reference of ethical mining and emerald expertise.
In every aspect of its operations, Belmont emphasises sustainability and community support. The majority of its workforce is sourced locally, with a significant representation of women, highlighting its dedication to gender equity and ongoing skills development. Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, Belmont’s skilled artisans cut and polish emeralds to perfection, ensuring superior quality and consistency.
Catering to a global clientele spanning the US, Europe, Asia and Brazil, Belmont maintains its reputation as a trusted source of quality emeralds. Through its mine-to-market approach, the company ensures the consistent quality, authenticity and integrity of its gemstones.
Continuing its tradition of innovation, Belmont pioneers technologies like optical and laser sorting, enhancing productivity and efficiency while minimising environmental impact. Investments in renewable energy, including a photovoltaic power plant, align with Belmont’s vision of sustainable operations, driving towards a future powered by clean energy and zero emissions. Belmont’s outstanding initiatives include:
– Preserving and protecting approximately 3,700 acres of the Atlantic Rain Forest, safeguarding local wildlife and biodiversity. More than 20,000 saplings were planted in this preservation area.
– Establishing a nursery for native trees to support the company’s reforestation efforts, guided by dedicated Environmental Engineers.
– Reinforcing its commitment to sustainable operations by installing a 1.5 MW solar power plant. Currently, Belmont meets 100% of its electricity needs through self-generated power from its photovoltaic plant.
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Established in India in 1987, Fine Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd was built on strong family values, putting into action ethical business practices that would shine through in every thought, action and creation. The result is a relationship-focused family company recognised for its expertise and trusted for its integrity – growing through innovation, thriving on change, progressive in thought and action. From the sourcing of materials to the transparency of its processes, Fine Jewellery Manufacturing prioritises ethical practices every step of the way, guided by the principles of the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and the 3 P’s – Planet, People and Product. The company is:
– Dedicated to sourcing 100% recycled precious metals through Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)-certified metal refineries
– Transitioning from traditional packaging materials like tin boxes and non-biodegradable plastic to eco-friendly alternatives such as cardboard boxes, biodegradable plastic and eco-friendly adhesive tapes
– The only RJC member with an audited Provenance claim for the supply of jewellery with recycled gold and platinum
– Using renewable energy, resulting in the reduction of its operational carbon footprint from 793 MTCO2e to 40 MTCO2e (compared to base year 2020-2021)
– Contributing to skills development, social development, environmental conservation, healthcare and animal welfare relating to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2, 5, 8 and 13
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Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd is one of India’s leading manufacturers of cut and polished diamonds. Founded over three decades ago, the company, together with its philanthropic arm – the Dholakia Foundation – is stepping up its environmental conservation efforts through “Mission 102030,” which aims to have 10 million trees planted by 2030 in Gujarat.
– Over 2.8 million trees were planted as of February 2024. This was achieved through a combination of community outreach, education initiatives and hands-on planting efforts.
– The plantation developed by Hari Krishna Exports has C-sequestered approximately 1.68 million tonnes of C02. Further, the plantation releases 81,377 tonnes of oxygen each year.
– Planting diverse native species restores degraded landscapes, providing habitats for various flora and fauna, enriching India’s rich biodiversity. Ornamental herbs and shrubs were also observed at Dholakia Island, Simada and Ichchhapor areas.
– With over 7 million trees yet to be planted, Mission 102030 continues its journey. Its focus remains on expanding community engagement, refining planting strategies and securing partnerships to bridge the gap and achieve its ambitious goal by 2030. By nurturing collaboration, awareness and responsible action, Mission 102030 promises a greener future not just for India, but for the planet.
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Jewelmer is an international luxury brand that was born out of a commitment to the world’s most lustrous cultured South Sea pearls and fine jewellery. Established in 1979 by a French pearl farmer and a Filipino entrepreneur, Jewelmer has grown globally to represent a world of rarity and enduring elegance through the golden South Sea pearl, the national gem of the Philippines.
– In 2006, the Save Palawan Seas Foundation was established, a non-profit organisation that aims to support the long-term conservation and protection of marine resources. Fully funded by the Jewelmer group and its pearl farms, the foundation aims to support the long-term conservation and protection of marine resources, while providing income to the local communities that protect the coastal environment through various livelihood projects.
– The foundation’s initiatives include offering environmental education for children and educating fisherfolks through marine and fisheries presentations – opportunities that provide better quality of life and other income sources. Other programmes include coral planting, organic vegetable planning, seaweed farming, community seminars to raise awareness of endangered species around Palawan, and coastal cleanups to restore the beauty of the island’s white sand beaches.
– Together with Jewelmer’s pearl farmers, divers, marine biologists and members of other departments, the Maison helps in caring for around 40,000 hectares of marine-protected zones.
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VGL’s journey started as a conventional gemstone exporter and grew to jewellery exporter to various brands abroad (B2B business). Today, the VGL group is a vertically integrated fashion retailer with a multi-channel presence across well-integrated platforms, comprising 24×7 proprietary TV home-shopping channels, e-commerce websites, mobile apps, smart TV, OTT platforms, social media platforms, influence marketing, third-party marketplaces and other digital means.
VGL has a highly differentiated model catering to the retail sector of two of the world’s largest economies – the US (www.shoplc.com) and the UK (www.tjc.co.uk). Its sustainability initiatives encompassed the following:
– Total solar capacity increased to 3.23 MW from 2021. This generated 11.2 million kWh, reducing 8,736 tonnes of carbon emissions.
– Recycled 2,200 kg of electronic waste and 1,750 kg of plastic waste since 2021. Implemented recycling streams within its US and UK units and composting at US unit.
– Installed rainwater harvesting systems to service factories in Jaipur, India and introduced Effluent Treatment Plants for water recycling. Since 2021, the company harvested 6.1 million litres of rainwater and recycled approximately 95,000 KL (kilolitre = 1,000 litres) of water cumulatively.
– Employed the Miyawaki technique to restore biodiversity and enhance green cover rapidly.
– Goal set to be carbon neutral by 2031 in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, which involves a multi-faceted approach, including using electric vehicles (EVs) for employee commuting. This reduces its carbon footprint, addresses employee wellness and reduces air pollution.