"Creating a long term positive impact and
championing transparency across the industry"
Sustainability
It’s our goal to operate in a way that contributes positively to national economies, takes a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building lasting, sustainable livelihoods for the communities around our mines. We believe that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values - legitimacy, transparency and integrity.
We go over and above accepted practices operating in a way that not only meets international and national laws, but that also challenges the sector by setting new benchmarks around sustainability.
1.To lead we must be transparent. As well as leading with our own standards and initiatives through our downstream supply chain, we are working with partners to standardise strong, transparent practices across the industry.
2.We are committed to embedding tangible operational actions from the mines onwards, to support sales and marketing of our product. Our proprietary grading system provides our partners with trusted evaluation and declaration of treatment.
3.Sustainability
Before starting any full scale mining operations, we work with the relevant authorities to carry out environmental impact assessments and engage with the communities as to our plans. Our approach is based on balancing what we take out with the need and desire to put something back.
Whether that’s protecting the environment, building lasting community legacies or creating a safe working environment we will only be able to operate year-on-year for the full life of the mine by securing a social licence to operate. To ensure we operate at the highest standards in this regard, we align our approach to the broader strategic aims of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Visit the United Nation'sSustainability
At each operation, locally developed community strategies reflect the overall Gemfields approach to sustainability and are tailored to the needs of the community. Each community strategy follows a consistent approach to invest in health, education and livelihoods projects after extensive community consultation and approval of the use of available funds.
Our philosophy is that for infrastructure projects, where investment by the state is limited, we will build schools, clinics or upgrade basic utilities, roads and bridges but hand these over after developing a clear memorandum of understanding with the government. For livelihoods projects, we provide start-up funds, help to set up farming associations, provide project and financial management expertise, and facilitate training in order that projects become viable in the long-term and that communities may benefit from new sources of income in the short, medium, and long term.