FairGems Process, Developing Ethically Sourced, Traceable Gems From Sri Lanka
A new and exciting project is emerging in Sri Lanka: it’s called FairGems Process. They are not due to go fully into production until next year.
You can download a PDF which goes into detail here and a supply chain diagram here. You can also learn more about them from their websites: http://www.fairgemsprocess.com/index.php/en and http://www.batisseursdespoir.com/index.php/en.htmm
Though the supply chain of ethical gems is still quite small. FairGems Process joins other excellent gemstone mining initiatives listed on our website that support small scale artisan mining.
FairGems Process is another new member of Fair Jewelry Action. The only immediate concern I have about their literature at this point is that they use the term, ‘fairtrade’ which is internationally copyrighted by FLO. Also, they put a copyright symbol after the term, ‘FairGem.’
Terms such as fair trade gem or fair gem need to be part of our community commons.
Below are a few questions I posed to Amandine Rongy, who initially contacted me and is involved in the project.
~Marc Choyt, Director, Fair Jewelry Action USA.
FJA: My understanding about the gemstone sector in Sri Lanka– I’ve been there twice— is that it is primarily small scale and quite robust. Many of the claims are run collectively. Can you let me know how the small scale mining and miners that take part in your program are different from what takes place in claims outside of your program? In other words, what ecological or social conditions make your Sri Lankan gemstones especially appealing to the ethical jeweler?
AR: First, it is important to note that the project is still under development.
In concrete terms, what has been implemented on the ground is the construction of the FairGems Training Centre. It offers to the most disadvantaged young generation a free education in the gemstones industry. It has been conceived and built through the French NGO “Bâtisseurs d’espoir”, which is part of the Fair Gems Process. This centre is running in Beruwala, Sri Lanka.
Concerning the claims inside our program, miners do not get benefit of our actions yet. As mentioned in our document, FairGems Process aims to be fully ethical in 2012, when miners will get their first homes built.
There is an indirect benefit which is attracting gem dealers directly to Ratnapura.
On the ecological and social point of view, one of the main reasons of implementing this program in Sri Lanka – as a pilot country – is due to the Sri Lankan laws already established to protect the environment and to respect miners’ working conditions. We do not aim to change more than 2000 years of tradition. Therefore, we thought that Sri Lanka was very likely to welcome our program with further action so that miners can get the benefit they deserve.
An ethical jeweler, while buying a FairGems Process stone, will prove the exact origin of his stone; he will know from which mines it is from, and the conditions of extractions. He will be participating in the development of the education of the young disadvantaged Sri Lankan generation as well as the improvement of miners’ living conditions.
We invite gem dealers and jewelers to come and visit the FairGems Process mines to see in which conditions gemstones are mined.
FJA: In reading your report, you talked about third party monitoring. This implies that there is a set of principles and standards for your “fair trade” or “ethically sourced” gemstones. First, how were this document produced and who was involved? Is there a place that I can review the principles and standards document?
AR: As far as I know, the document mentioned is the charter which has been created two years ago in partnership with Synergence, a French communication agency specialized in Sustainable development. Bruno Rebelle (Ex No. 2 Greenpeace International) was part of the project as well.
FJA: How do you plan your channel of distribution?
AR: Being a non-profit organization, we do not understand channel of distribution in a commercial way. We do not change anything in the supply chain but we invite all the actors of the supply chain to federate around the process. It is through a partnership in between those actors that FairGems Process stones will transit.
FJA: There’s a 3% commission that goes back to the community. Who decides where that money goes and how it gets distributed?
AR: So far, the funds raised from the transactions have been distributed to the FairGems Training Centre to assure the education of the students.
The association – from May 2011 – composed of members of FairGems Process, Miners, Producers, Gem Cutters, and Gem Dealers will then manage those funds. Decisions will be taken in committees. It will only get distributed when we have raised enough money to build the first houses. The idea of building houses for miners as a first action has been decided with miners themselves while asking them how we could improve their living conditions.
Please Note:
FJA is a forum open to a diversity of opinions in support of its mission. Any editorial expressed in this article represents the opinion of the author, and not necessarily the views of Fair Jewelry Action members.
