GOLD SOURCING
Zale appreciates its obligation to conduct its business in an ethical and socially and environmentally responsible manner. In that regard, below is information concerning Zale's Gold Supply Chain.
Zale's Gold Supply Chain
- Zale believes that gold should be mined and refined in a sustainable and responsible manner that respects the needs of people and the earth.
- Zale expects its vendors and other business partners to conduct their businesses in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. This expectation specifically extends to vendors who supply gold products to Zale. For example, but without limitation, Zale's Vendor Code of Conduct requires vendors to:
- Comply with their national labor and environmental laws, rules and regulations;
- Respect the fundamental International Labor Organization conventions and Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
- Provide a safe workplace that does not permit the use of monetary fines, corporal punishment or other forms of mental or physical abuse, coercion or intimidation;
- Prohibit the use of forced labor;
- Not employ persons below 14, where the law of the applicable country permits, or younger than the age for completing compulsory education, whichever is greater in the relevant country; and
- Protect the environment within their respective spheres of influence, including supporting initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility along the entire jewelry supply chain.
- Zale believes that stakeholders throughout the gold supply chain must work together to ensure appropriate ethical, human rights, social and environmental practices. Those beliefs lead Zale, along with other leading companies throughout the gold and diamond supply chain, to found the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) (formerly known as the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices) in 2005.
The RJC's mission is: To advance responsible ethical, social and environmental practices, which respect human rights, throughout the diamond and gold jewellery supply chain, from mine to retail.
The RJC's vision is: To increase consumer confidence in diamond and gold jewellery. We will accomplish our vision through the successful implementation of a system for certification of responsible business practices that is widely recognised and valued by our stakeholders.
RJC has developed a certification system which requires all commercial RJC members, including Zale, to be audited by accredited, third party auditors to verify their conformance with the RJC's Code of Practices. The Code of Practices includes standards concerning business ethics, human rights, social performance and environmental performance.
For more information about RJC, please visit www.responsiblejewellery.com.