Fair Jewelry Action in 2015
Fair Jewelry Action (FJA) is a voluntary, non-institutional network founded by two jewelry activists Marc Choyt and Greg Valerio in 2009. Both have extensive experience in pioneering ethical and fair trade practices in the jewelry industry at a grassroots and international level.
Our focus has been researching and commenting on the human rights and environmental impact performance of the industry as a whole. This has involved FJA in ground-breaking campaigns, like the Greenland Ruby and the development of certified Fairtrade gold. We are an inside voice on the true ethical impact of jewelry practices for the public and industry.
FJA promotes ethical and fair trade jewelry practices by advocating and demonstrating traceability and transparency in the jewelry supply chain. FJA’s objective is to direct more of the wealth creation of the jewelry sector toward regenerating local economies in small-scale artisan producer communities. We also support cultural integrity and assuring environmental sustainability.
The jewelry landscape has changed since we started. The notion of “ethical” has been coopted by corporate voices and vested interests who want to create the appearance of “responsible jewelry practices.” The result of this process is that despite the attention ethical issues garner in the larger jewelry trade, there has been almost no change on the ground for producer communities which supply jewelers with their mined products.
We are committed to continuing to speak openly and honestly on these issues. We stand for mine to market verifiable tractability for all jewelers, that in turn enables greater integrity in the jewelry product and tangible improvements for small-scale artisanal miners.
We welcome guest articles and comments.
