Recently once again, the World Diamond Council [WDC], called The Blue List! On May 5, 2025, the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) released a draft document called The Blue List, which it described as; a Responsible Jewelry Supply Chain Lexicon.
It also announced the start of a four-month public consultation period, following which the first approved dictionary of terminology used to describe responsibly sourced products and sustainable practices in the jewelry, gemstone and precious metals supply chains will be made available for public use.
In the row, the WDC discussed The Blue List with Purvi Shah, the Jewelry Industry Supply Chain Nomenclature Committee Lead, who coordinated the work of the body, including the public consultation that is currently underway. The objective of the industry on the Blue List is said to take the bold step of defining the terms responsible, ethical, and sustainable for the jewelry industry. Purvi Shah suggest the way to approach!
Purvi Shah suggested that was a really challenging exercise, because we were acutely aware that the terms responsible, ethical, and sustainable are frequently used across the jewelry industry, and often interchangeably, without clear, substantiated understanding of how they differ, and how they relate to one another.
In The Blue List, the Committee addressed this by offering distinct yet interconnected definitions, structured in a hierarchical framework that reflects the progression of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) maturity:
Responsible: Responsible is the foundational level. It refers to meeting internationally recognized baseline standards—such as legal compliance, business integrity, respect for human rights, and supply chain due diligence.
Ethical: Ethical moves one step up, building on the “responsible” level. It proposes the proactive implementation of frameworks like the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and initiatives that go beyond legal minimums to create positive social impact, like, for example, paternal leave policies that exceed the legal requirement.
Sustainable: Sustainable, sits at the top of the hierarchy. It encompasses both “responsible” and “ethical” practices, but additionally requires that businesses positively account for long-term impacts, including enduring socio-economic benefits and robust environmental stewardship.
Each definition is supported by clear criteria for substantiation. This means that any claims made in a marketing campaign or ESG report are evidence-based, report on progress and are not merely aspirational.
We’re particularly interested in stakeholder feedback on this hierarchical model and the definitions themselves. This is a key objective of the consultation process we currently are involved in. We are confident that, with thoughtful input, we can ensure these terms are both practical and powerful.
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