GIA Becomes First Lab to Join Watch & Jewellery Initiative

RAPAPORT... The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has joined the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) and will work with the group to develop environmental, social and governance (ESG) content for education programs."Supporting WJI 2030 will build on GIA's many existing sustainability initiatives," Johanna Levy, GIA's vice president of ESG programs, said last week. "Our next steps are to carefully document our footprint and set science-based targets to reduce that footprint."The GIA has already been overhauling its practices to make them more sustainable. Earlier this year, the grading lab announced that by 2025 it would issue gemological reports in digital form only, hoping to cut back on 20 tons of paper and 18.5 tons of plastic annually and reduce shipping-related carbon emissions. The company is also a member of the UN Global Compact and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)."We welcome GIA to WJI 2030 as the first gemological research, education and laboratory organization to join," said Cartier CEO Cyrille Vigneron and Kering chief sustainability and institutional affairs officer Marie-Claire Daveu, both cochairs of WJI 2030. "WJI wants to grow naturally through purpose-driven leadership. The institute, with its expertise and mindset for positive change, will bring great added value to building a strong, inclusive and impactful framework for our initiative."Image: WJI executive director Iris Van der Veken (left); GIA CEO Susan Jacques (center); and Johanna Levy (right). (Gemological Institute of America)