Former director of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), Iris Van der Veken will become the executive director of the new Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030.
Based in Geneva and co-founded by Cartier and brand conglomerate Kering, the new body will commit members across the industry to ambitious targets in climate, diversity, health and safety and labour standards. Van der Veken aims to set higher standards than the RJC and bind members to them.
In February this year, Kering, rival group Richemont and Van der Veken all resigned from the RJC in protest against the body’s reluctance to suspend Russian diamond miner Alrosa in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Alrosa has since suspended itself, while Kering and Richemont have rejoined the RJC.
Swarovski, Pandora, Rosy Blue and Chanel, as well as the brands under the Kering and Richemont stables have joined this new initiative.
Read below for more world news: