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It holds our global suppliers to high ethical standards and prioritizes respect for human rights.
In turn, we provide consumer confidence and continuously improve the integrity of our global diamond supply chain through our four-layered system of checks and balances.
OUR FOUR-LAYERED CONSUMER CONFIDENCE APPROACH Signet created the award-winning, open-source Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP) in 2012.
Signet is an active member of the World Diamond Council (WDC), a non-profit trade association established in industry to support the Kimberley Process (KP) in preventing conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond trade.
We audit the implementation of the WDC’s System of Warranties (SoW), which extends the effectiveness of the KP beyond the export and import of rough diamonds to include polished diamonds we sell.
Signet became a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) in 2005.
The RJC is the world’s leading standard-setting organization for the jewelry and watch industry.
Today, Signet remains a participant in its SDG Taskforce and numerous committees, actively ensuring adherence to globally responsible business practices that include human rights, labor practices, environment, and anti-corruption.
Signet’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs is the Chair of RJC’s board of directors, serving the second year of his elected three-year term.
Please see the text box on page on RJC committees.
Signet adheres to the Kimberley Process, an international certification program that regulates trade in rough diamonds.
The process is designed to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect the legitimate trade in rough diamonds.
We urge everyone with a stake in our industry to continue with, or join us in, the pursuit of integrity, transparency, and accountability.
LGD Laboratory Grown Diamond 1 3 2 4 Continued Commitment to Responsibly Sourced Precious Minerals and Metals Signet has a well-established history of leadership in ongoing efforts to ensure responsible sourcing of conflict-free precious metals, diamonds, and gemstones.
Conflict-free means that these resources are acquired in a manner that is respectful of human rights.
We continue to be one of only three corporations, and the only jewelry company, that has submitted an Independently audited annual Conflict Mineral Report (CMR) since calendar year 2013) to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act.
* Signet continues to support legislation and processes that strengthen transparency and integrity in the trade of conflict-free minerals.
For example, Signet works through the World Diamond Council to support the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
This joint government, industry, and civil society initiative has successfully stemmed the flow of conflict diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.
Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas into our supplier policy and management.
* Respect for human rights is foundational to Signet’s supply chain due diligence approach.
In Cooperative Development (OECD) Conflict Minerals Multi-stakeholder Working Group.
Signet’s Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP) has been aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights since 2011.
The Company, accordingly, has led hundreds of suppliers in implementing the UN Guiding Principles for more than a decade, aligning with OECD Due Diligence Guidance since 2016.
Signet has a track record of working with our suppliers to ensure our supply chain addresses human rights risks.
Russia On March suppliers that the Company had suspended all business interactions with Russian-owned entities as a result of the February 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine — preceding US sanctions.
Subsequently, Signet sent its initial communication to suppliers, announcing an end to all purchases of precious metals and diamonds originating from from Russia since the start of the invasion.
Previously, Signet had a long-term business relationship with Russian diamond miner ALROSA.
At the time this report was published, those sanctions remained in place.
our expectations of identifying diamonds, precious gemstones, and precious metals originating from Russia in their inventory.
Myanmar In rubies originating from Myanmar (formerly Burma), due to reports of human rights violations in the country.
In went a step further after media reports of human rights violations concerning the Rohingya people in Myanmar and the report from a fact-finding mission of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
As a result, Signet gemstone suppliers were contacted and asked to provide more details and due diligence on their supply chains to determine if, in addition to rubies, any other gemstones might originate from Myanmar.
Once Signet was provided with the information, it worked with suppliers to ensure that no materials originating from Myanmar were present in their inventories or supplied to Signet.
Rights Issues Are Resolved The return to sourcing from any country cited for human rights violations would only occur once there is adequate substantiation that human rights violations in the country have been resolved, and Signet is confident that sourcing protocols fall in line with the Company’s responsible sourcing policy.
Sourcing Protocol Signet developed this industry-leading protocol through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process that included input from suppliers, producers, major jewelry trade associations, civil society, auditors, customers, governments, and banks.
Over the next five years, the SRSP expanded to cover supply chains for all precious metals and minerals — diamonds, 3TG, silver, and platinum group metals.
It also includes a special section on human rights.
Signet developed the human rights section of the SRSP to be consistent with the Responsible Jewellery Council’s (RJC) Code of Practices on human rights, which was produced through extensive consultation with outside stakeholders, including the Organisation for Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD).
In for Colored Gemstones, providing assurances that its fine jewelry pieces containing natural rubies, sapphires, and emeralds are verified as being responsibly sourced.
That same year, Signet incorporated James Allen suppliers into its established SRSP processes and created the Diamond Responsible Sourcing Protocol (DRSP) for diamond-only suppliers in Rinventory platform called the D-Market.
The DRSP is consistent with the Signet SRSP Appendix for Diamonds.
In sourcing requirements for laboratory grown diamonds (LGDs) to the SRSP as a requirement for all suppliers of LGDs.
Our commitment to ensuring responsible supplier practices and the integrity of our processes throughout our supply chain is embodied in our open-source Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP).
The Signet SRSP Audit Guidance document is updated each year and provided to suppliers as part of the SRSP process.
Signet conducts its responsible sourcing audit assurance program through the supplier’s certification audit against the RJC 2019 Code of Practices.
In addition, all Signet suppliers are subject to audit for any reason, at any time.
General guidelines are disclosed in the table below.
A supplier’s RJC certification must include all precious minerals and metals from all manufacturing and office locations.
RJC-certified members who achieve and maintain this level of certification are not required to undertake third-party audits of SRSP reports and/or ethical audits (i.e., onsite factory audits).
For non-RJC members, or for RJC members whose RJC membership or current certification scope does not cover all products supplied to Signet, Signet may require suppliers to undertake an independent audit of their SRSP Compliance Report, based on Signet’s risk assessment relating to the supplier’s report.
The complexity of our supply chain mandates implementing very detailed policies and constructive engagement with all suppliers to ensure transparent sourcing.
The SRSP Appendix for Diamonds applies to all diamonds supplied to Signet, including loose, rough, and polished diamonds, as well as diamonds set into finished jewelry.
The majority of Signet’s sourced diamonds come in the form of finished jewelry, but there is diversity in supplier business models and diamond types in the Company’s supply chain.
The SRSP asks suppliers to identify all diamonds supplied to Signet in any of four diamond categories: ◆ Hygiene, health and safety ◆ Waste management ◆ Child and young labor ◆ Working hours and wages ◆ Labor practices, including forced labor, worker representation, disciplinary practices and discrimination.
In addition to adhering to our industry-leading, global sourcing protocol, our internal teams perform their own final assurance of quality.
Maintaining Diamond Integrity As a retailer, Signet is responsible for sharing accurate disclosures about natural diamonds and laboratory grown diamonds.
To mitigate risks and maintain integrity of the natural diamond supply chain, Signet launched Project ASSURE in partnership with De Beers and the Natural Diamond Council.
Project ASSURE was established to reassure customers that a diamond sold as a natural diamond is truly of natural origin.
Distinguishing natural diamonds from laboratory grown diamonds requires specialized equipment and cannot be assessed by the human eye.
Accurate disclosure, supported by third-party tested Diamond Verification Instruments, ensures customers know what they are buying and can feel confident in purchasing natural diamonds.
The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol also requires all Signet suppliers to screen diamonds and apply strict factory standards to mitigate the risk of mixing natural diamonds with laboratory grown diamonds.
Project ASSURE has developed a standard for diamond detection technology in association with Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Devices are submitted to UL for testing under the ASSURE Standard.
The published results allow the trade to make informed choices about the accuracy of diamond detection equipment and which device best suits their requirements.
◆ Member of expert networking group developing the OECD handbook on risks associated with production and trade of natural resources, covering guidance for all minerals.
The RJC joined the UNGC in Principles of the UNGC on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption into the RJC Code of Practices.
This report serves as Signet's first Communication on Progress.
Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; PRINCIPLE ◆ Undertakes initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and PRINCIPLE 9 ◆ Encourages the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Joining the UN Global Compact reaffirms our existing commitments to positive change in the communities we operate to create the world we want.
We are excited to join a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders, all working together to address the most pressing challenges facing people and the planet.
Launched in corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries.
our long-standing commitment to responsible, ethical business practices and upholding the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.
We commit to making the UN Global Compact and its Principles an integral part of our business strategy, day-to-day operations, and organizational culture.
The RJC Code of Practices (COP) is the foundation of its work — addressing human rights, labor rights, environmental impact, mining practices, product disclosure, and other topics in the jewelry supply chain.
In incorporate international guidance on supply chain due diligence and expanded to include silver and colored gemstones.
Signet requires all suppliers to join the RJC and to be certified by RJC’s accredited third-party auditors.
This certification by RJC is harmonized with Signet’s audit policy, so RJC-certified suppliers are exempt from Signet’s SRSP audit and independent social audits of factories.
Signet’s policy to purchase from RJC members is a key component of our responsible sourcing program, including supply chain risk assessment and due diligence process.
In the RJC certification scheme was Signet’s primary mechanism for ensuring independent third-party verification and our jewelry supply chain audit.
Signet does purchase a percentage of its jewelry from nonRJC members.
To ensure those non-RJC members comply with Signet’s SRSP, we require non-RJC members to submit compliance reports annually.
Signet then identifies non-RJC member suppliers that are at risk of non-compliance with the Company’s SRSP and requires non-RJC member suppliers to undertake an independent audit.
Signet is now a four-time certified member of the RJC.
Signet was recertified as an RJC member in October 2021.
Signet’s 2021 RJC audit was inclusive of R2Net.
Signet will be subject to RJC audit for recertification in acquisitions Diamonds Direct and Rocksbox will be included in the independent third-party audit required for RJC recertification.
Signet is a founding and three-time Certified member of the RJC, the jewelry industry’s premier standards and certification organization.
“As RJC Chair, I am proud of our accomplishments towards ensuring consumer confidence in the global jewelry and watch industry.
With more than successfully increased manufacturer membership in Asia and Europe and we know we can do the same by working with retailers in the US.
* by value, excludes R The RJC provides a forum for the jewelry industry to advance important initiatives for continuous improvement.
We are proud to have Signet team members collaborating on numerous RJC committees including the Assurance Committee, Colored Gemstone Committee, and the SDG Taskforce.
FRAMEWORKS Signet believes transparency about our key suppliers is important for accountability to our stakeholders.
The table below reflects Signet’s top twenty finished jewelry suppliers across all banners.
Rough Diamonds Signet purchases rough diamonds from suppliers that comply with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Polished Diamonds Rough diamonds are cut and polished at our polishing facility in Botswana or sourced from suppliers that comply with the World Diamond Council System of Warranties.
Jewelry Manufacturing Signet purchases most of its finished jewelry from jewelry manufacturers that are RJC members.
Signet requires our suppliers to join the RJC.
As a De Beers sightholder, we ensure compliance with international human rights standards derived from compliance with the De Beers Best Practice Principles.