On November 26-27, FACETS 2024 brought together over 200 leaders, diplomats, and industry experts at Antwerp’s Handelsbeurs to address the challenges and opportunities facing the diamond industry. Organized in partnership with the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030), [JB1] the event continued its legacy of fostering impactful discussions and collaborations, focusing on key topics such as evolving mining practices, midstream trader adaptability, and the growing demand for sustainability and transparency in the supply chain.

The event kicked off with a powerful keynote address by H.E. President of Botswana, Mr. Duma Gideon Boko, who emphasized the importance of genuine partnerships for development, setting the tone for meaningful dialogue. This was followed by an insightful interview with Al Cook which delved into essential themes for the industry’s future, including a new sightholder framework, innovation, transparency, and the critical role of communication and collaboration in safeguarding the integrity of the pipeline and driving consumer confidence.

Later in the day, Watch and Jewellery 2030 Executive Director Iris Van der Vaken moderated the panel “Re-imagining Sustainability as Your Strategy to Business Innovation”, alongside Diana Verde Nieto, an international business and sustainability leader, and Francesca Manfredi, Head of Sustainable Innovation for Watches & Jewellery at Kering. Diana’s perspective that “sustainability is not a cost; it’s an investment,” highlighted the need to prioritize sustainable solutions. Francesca shared inspiring initiatives from Kering, illustrating how brands like Boucheron and Gucci are redefining the industry through innovation and collaboration, emphasizing the transformative role of technology and the engagement of the next generation.

Day 2, largely driven by WJI 2030, focused on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within the diamond industry. The day began with the formal signing of the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs) by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), marking a significant commitment to driving gender equality in the sector.

The day also featured a leadership forum on Advancing Gender Equality in Our Industry, with engaging panels and fireside chats from key industry figures such as Ahalya Choksi, Deborah Pienica, Didier Backaert, Eira Thomas, Francesca Manfredi, and Olivia Landau. Discussions highlighted the practical application of gender equality principles in member companies, with real-world examples from CHANEL, Gucci, Dimexon Diamonds, Bonas Group, Rosy Blue NV, and IGI.

The event concluded with the “Voices of Tomorrow” panel, where emerging leaders shared their vision for a more inclusive and diverse future in the diamond sector.

FACETS 2024 sparked vital discussions, paving the way for industry-wide action on sustainability, innovation, and gender equality. It highlighted the critical role of collaboration in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for the diamond and jewellery sectors. Now is the time to transform these conversations into tangible actions—let’s work together to drive meaningful progress and shape the future of our industry.

On October 30th, 2024, we gathered in Copenhagen with our members and strategic partners for the 6th workshop, co-hosted by Pandora. Over 80 participants from 45 member companies joined WJI 2030 to discuss key issues shaping the future of our industry.

This full-day session was filled with insightful discussions on the evolving role of companies and the actions that are required of them to make measurable progress. We explored the challenges and complexities ahead, recognizing that companies, especially SMEs, require guidance, training, and support.

As an initiative, we are actively listening to our members, directing our efforts toward hands-on, practical support focused on implementation and operationalization.

The video below highlights perspectives shared by some of our members, including WJI 2030 Board Member Alexander Lacik (CEO & President, Pandora), on WJI 2030’s role as a multi-stakeholder initiative in a rapidly changing landscape. Through our collective efforts, we’re strengthening our commitment to a sustainable future, ensuring our industry is ready for 2030 and beyond.

Paris, France 17 October 2024 – The second edition of the WJI 2030 CEO Forum convened, bringing together more than 70 c-suite from across the global watch and jewellery value chain. The forum themed “The Value of Principles and Transparency in an Era of Disruption and Polarization”, highlighted innovative strategies for businesses to future-proof through enhanced transparency and disclosure.

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering and Co-Chair of the WJI 2030 Board, opened the session with a powerful call to action, underscoring the critical role of collaboration. She emphasized, “Collective action is not just a buzzword—we cannot shift the paradigm alone. We must act in concert, and we must act decisively.”

Iris van der Veken, Executive Director and Secretary General of WJI 2030, provided a comprehensive update on the initiative’s progress since its launch two years ago. Van der Veken elaborated, “Each of our initiatives—across climate, nature, and inclusiveness—is aligned with evolving regulations, highlighting the importance of staying ahead of emerging challenges. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel; instead, we must focus on collaboration, learning, and shared progress.” She concluded with an inspiring call to action, echoing the words of Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact: “With 2030 fast approaching, we must all work together across generations, sectors, and regions to spur lasting, positive change. This change hinges on four vital ingredients: action, speed, scope, and scale.”

Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture & Philanthropy and Co-Chair of WJI 2030, urged participants to reflect on the expectations of future generations. He emphasized the importance of bringing conviction and purpose into discussions about ESG. “Words like ‘governance’ can feel dry,” he said. “What matters is the energy and heart we put behind these concepts. It’s not about compliance for compliance’s sake—it’s about doing what’s right because it is good.” Vigneron challenged the forum to approach these principles not just as obligations, but as opportunities to lead with purpose.

The forum underscored WJI 2030’s continued commitment to driving sustainability and transparency within the luxury sector, affirming that collaboration and collective action are indispensable for navigating this era of unprecedented disruption.

For a full recap of the event, including insights from our other distinguished speakers, see the event video here.

Las Vegas, NV, May 30, 2024 – Today at the JCK Las Vegas Sustainability Summit, the Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030) launched the Nature Roadmap, which provides a framework for businesses to act together in response to the nature and biodiversity crisis with guidance on the key steps that companies need to take – Assess, Commit, Transform, and Disclose.

The Nature Roadmap is the result of a collaborative effort between WJI 2030 members and leading industry and biodiversity experts. This comprehensive Roadmap distils information on available frameworks, leading practices, and expert knowledge, providing a clear path for companies to make meaningful contributions to biodiversity. As a living document, the Nature Roadmap will continually evolve, responding to changes in the nature-business landscape to remain relevant and effective.

Biodiversity is crucial for the watch and jewellery industry. All companies are dependent on the biological diversity, natural resources, and ecosystem services provided by nature. A clear understanding of the relationship between business, nature and biodiversity is a crucial first step. Recognizing this, WJI 2030 is committed to leading the sector in promoting sustainable practices that protect and restore nature.

Nature is in crisis. The entire world is losing biodiversity at an alarming rate and climate change is fuelling the loss of ecosystems. Risk analysis shows that businesses cannot survive without nature and its many essential services. The watch and jewellery sector is up against the same challenges. Extractive mining, chemical use in processes, water use in production steps all put our sector in a nature hot seat! Such dire analysis can make many feel at a loss: how can just one company single-handedly help invert the curve of biodiversity loss to a curve of regeneration and ensure resilience for the future?

Science and innovation can help businesses be one of the most significant contributors for generating a positive impact on nature and climate. In recent years, the need to act for nature has gained awareness and the international community has put it at the top of the list of risks and opportunities to embrace. Much hope sits in businesses’ particular capacity to help accelerate and scale systemic change for greater resilience.

WJI 2030 is here to support its members and pave the way for the wider industry, regardless of their current progress in their biodiversity journey.

Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and Institutional Affairs Officer, Kering

All businesses, including yours, are dependent on the biological diversity, natural resources, and ecosystem services provided by nature. Our mission, aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s call this year to “Be part of the plan,” is to prioritise building strong relationships with key stakeholders across industries, sharing knowledge, educating, learning from experts and taking collective action. The WJI 2030 is supporting its members and the wider industry to be part of business efforts for nature, and contributing to the transformation we need to make, from depleting to restoring nature.

Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director and Secretary General, Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030

The Nature Roadmap is designed to guide, support, and inspire organizations on their nature-positive journeys. It offers practical tools and insights to help companies integrate biodiversity into their business strategies, ultimately creating value for both their operations and the environment.

This initial version of the Nature Roadmap will undergo  further expert consultations to ensure it remains a dynamic and continually improving resource. By involving our members and biodiversity experts in this ongoing process, the WJI 2030 aims to refine and enhance the roadmap to better serve the industry’s evolving needs. The consultation form and Nature Roadmap can be accessed via the link below.

The launch of the Nature Roadmap marks a significant milestone for WJI 2030 and its members. It reflects its collective commitment to sustainability and the  vision for a future where business and nature thrive together.

For more information about the Nature Roadmap and WJI 2030’s sustainability initiatives, please visit Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (wjinitiative2030.org) or contact together@wjinitiative2030.org.


Nature Roadmap Consultation Form

We have created the Nature Roadmap Consultation Form to assess the strengths of the Roadmap and inform areas for potential improvement. The Nature Roadmap is a living document, we appreciate your feedback.


Take part in the consultation here

Change is happening: the Initiative creates a virtuous circle to address this evolution.

WJI 2030: CHANEL has joined WJI 2030 in 2022. The Initiative is growing and gaining momentum. In your mind, what are the most important results of WJI 20230?

FRÉDÉRIC GRANGIÉ: First of all, I would like to emphasize that we are thankful for this initiative. It represents a strong signal from the industry as a whole, because we are convinced that only through collective action can we achieve the goals towards a more sustainable business model. CHANEL is fully committed to this target and our objectives are in line with the initiative’s goals. Secondly, for me, the greatest success of WJI 2030 lies in its capacity to bring major stakeholders together and show a strong governance to reach these goals. It goes beyond just big brands. It brings the whole supply chain together. It helps define fundamentals axis on the three pillars identified: building climate resilience, preserving resources, and fostering inclusiveness. It leads to implementing best practices, to measuring impacts, and monitoring progresses. Obviously, each member has the freedom to define its own pace of development, but the momentum WJI 2030 creates, and the scope of its reach, are key for everyone.

WJI 2030: Collaborations within the luxury industry are key to accelerating the necessary transformation. How is the WJI promoting these collaborations? Which ones have started bearing fruits according to CHANEL? 

FRÉDÉRIC GRANGIÉ: WJI 2030 is the perfect example to show that you can bring together key stakeholders who are competitors in the industry but have the same goals and responsibilities. Unless we act collectively, we won’t be successful. Sharing best practices, implementing measurement tools, committing to transparent reporting, together, creates a true community of like-minded companies that expands the scope of actions. When efforts, investments and visions are shared, it multiplies their efficiency. The Human Rights Navigator is a very concrete example of what the initiative does. The use of the UN Women’s Gender-Responsive Procurement Assessment Tool is another one showing the level of commitment of the members. These collaborations, inside the initiative and outside, show how crucial it is. Within the luxury goods industry, I think we’re ahead on some of today’s challenges because we create products that are intended to last and be passed down from generation to generation. Yet we need to be conscious of our impacts and strive to reduce them.

WJI 2030: Can luxury become a motor for sustainable development?

FRÉDÉRIC GRANGIÉ: We are fortunate to work in our line of business: we create products which are meant to last, which can be transmitted over generations. Luxury products are not discarded, they are re-used or re-sold. This has been part of our business model from the start. Nonetheless, we are at a turning point because we see that both regulators and consumers are demanding transparency on the impacts generated. So, a lot of initiatives that we have been implementing or investments we were making privately in the past have now become public. But the business model of luxury is sustainable in essence. The difference now is that we must embark our entire supply chain and help our partners thrive to minimize their production impacts. WJI 2030 represents an additional step in what luxury has been doing for a while now. Change is happening: the Initiative creates a virtuous circle to address this evolution.

WJI 2030 is pleased to announce the launch of a Pilot on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive – “Preparing for CSDDD: A Deep Dive on Key Topics”.

We welcome you to watch an Introductory Video from Mr. Didier Reynders, EU Commissioner of Justice, where he stresses the importance of commitment to responsible corporate governance and due diligence, and the opportunity for companies to step up before the Directive is in place. Collaborative action can create a bridge between policy and practice on the ground.

What will the Pilot look at?

What are the key objectives?

What is the main outcome? We will be developing an open-source case study on implementation of the upcoming regulation, in the watch & Jewellery industry, and bring every participant along the journey of learning, on the operationalisation of the new legislation.

Watch the full Video Here.