Manufacturing Standard Setting Committee: 6th Principle: Environment
Introduction:
This is an ongoing documentation of a series of dialogs between members of our Manufacturing Group, charged with the task of developing exceptional standards for jewelry manufacturing. Follow this link, https://fairjewelry.org/madison-dialogue-manufacturing-committee for full review of past discussions, including the entire principles and standards document that we are reviewing.
Manufacturing Standard Setting Committee: The 6th principle, Environment, had few comments. See the exchanges below.
~ Marc Choyt, Publisher, Fairjewelry.org
Marc Choyt wrote:
Below is the standard for the 6th principle; Environment. Please once again consider the proposed principle and standards.
Thank you again for your ongoing consideration.
Environment
Principle:
Manufacturing companies will operate with a commitment to ecological sustainability, minimizing waste, and seek continuous improvement in their environmental performance.
Standards:
Minimum Requirements:
6.1: The company will audit the waste from its facility.
6.2: Within a year, the company will implement a plan to reduce waste.
6.3: No materials shall be used in producing jewelry from endangered species.
6.4: The company will operate in full compliance with national environmental regulatory requirements. Any contaminants will be dealt with immediately and responsibly with the goal of minimizing impact to the environment.
6.5: The company will document their environmental performance and make it available to their auditors.
Flavia Aarden-Kilger wrote:
How are the environmental laws in developing countries. I hear and read the most aweful things from South America as well as China. For me that would mean 6.4 is meaningless. Shouldn’t there be some sort of criteria? Again I am not an expert on this…but for countries with little to no laws on environmental issues, shouldn’t we have some kind of rules in place?
Thanks again for all your efforts.
Marc Choyt wrote:
From my experience, most countries have something in place minimally, and so I put in 6.4 as a kind of minimum standard.
But reviewing the 6.4 standard now, I’m thinking it might make more sense to split out the two points, so it would read:
6.4: The company will operate in full compliance with national environmental regulatory requirements.
6.5: Any contaminants will be dealt with immediately and responsibly with the goal of minimizing the impact to the environment.
The current 6.5 would then be 6.6.
What do you think of this?
Flavia Aarden-Kilger wrote:
I think it is clearer. Not sure it’s enough, but if everyone else agrees how it’s outlined, it should be sufficient.
Dear Group:
Below please find the Progressive Requirements for Principle 6. To me, they seem straight forward enough. If there are no comments or suggestions for improvement, we can move to the next standard.
Cheers,
Marc
Progressive Requirements:
6.6p: The company will seek opportunities to continuously improve in their environmental performance and document such improvement.
6.7p: In addition to operating within full compliance with national environmental regulatory requirements, companies will strive to adhere to international best practices in their sector in running a facility, no matter where it may be in the world
6.8p: Companies will minimize waste production, and identify, manage, and mitigate the negative impacts of dumping wastes.
6.9p: Water and energy will be managed responsibly and efficiently. There will be responsible use, re-use, recycling and disposal of substances and materials at all stages of operation.
6.10p Manufacturing will operate with a commitment to ecological sustainability, minimizing waste, and seek continuous improvement in their environmental performance.
6.11p: Companies will make every effort to utilize recycled products and energy efficient lighting in their production whenever possible.
6.12p: Companies will recycle waste products at every available opportunity.
Greg Valerio wrote:
Agreed.
