Gemfields is proud to have become the first – and the only – gemstone company to be recognised as a corporate member by Voluntary Principles. A globally recognised initiative by governments, companies and NGOs to confront human rights abuses and violations, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) have now become the common standard implemented across a variety of industries, guiding companies on how to conduct their security operations while at the same time respecting human rights.

“We are delighted that, after a long, thorough process, Gemfields has been acknowledged by the VPSHR members, and has become the first pure gemstone mining company to have been accepted as a corporate member. The VPSHR represents an important space for governments, NGOs and corporates to share and challenge each other on how to improve security and human rights best practice, and we welcome the opportunity to learn from these knowledgeable peers as well as share our own experiences,”

says Jack Cunningham, Sustainability, Policy & Risk Director at Gemfields.

The “three-pillar” approach of the VPSHR, involving governments, companies and NGOs, acknowledges that, while the responsibility to protect human rights lies with governments, often companies and NGOs find themselves operating in complex environments with little guidance on the ground regarding how to respect human rights. Businesses have a duty to avoid harming people and to address any adverse impacts they may have on the communities in which they operate. One of the main contributions of the VPSHR is to provide well-researched criterion for a risk assessment that should be carried out before work begins. The principles also guide interactions between companies and both public and private security.

Gemfields has always taken great pride in leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the operations have a positive impact on the communities around their mines, in Mozambique and Zambia, and that they positively impact the local people in these places. The honour of membership to the VPSHR is confirmation of Gemfields’ positive footprint and will help to ensure that the good work continues.

As the world-leading supplier of responsibly sourced, coloured gemstones, Gemfields is advancing the industry as the first company to offer coloured gemstones for sale complete with Gübelin’s Provenance Proof technologies, not only citing the gemstone’s place of origin, but also setting up an encrypted record of a gemstone’s journey as it changes hands from mine to consumer.

At the end-of-year emerald and ruby auctions, several schedules of Gemfields’ high-value emeralds and rubies will be offered for sale at the company’s closed-room auction with complete blockchain records, providing customers with next-level transparency of gemstone history. The Provenance Proof Blockchain records can then be completed with details of ownership at every step as the gemstone exchanges hands, providing customers with an unprecedented level of clarity over the path a gemstone has taken.

The move comes as consumers increasingly demand knowledge of gemstone origin, showing heightened interest in mindful purchasing and appreciation of the impact of consumer behaviour throughout supply chains. In 2017, Gemfields pioneered Gübelin’s Emerald Paternity Test, the first Provenance Proof technology – the introduction of unique DNA particles that remain within an emerald’s fissures and serve to identify a gemstones’ origin on decode – and are now marrying this advance with Gübelin’s blockchain record process, providing a next step towards the goal of full transparency.

Gübelin Gem Lab’s advances in blockchain technology have given a huge boost to this ambition by providing a secure solution for proving the provenance of gemstones – the only way to be sure of exactly how a gemstone changes hands throughout its journey. This technique involves data for each gemstone being checked meticulously, using sophisticated algorithms, and then entered on a network of distributed digital ledgers: an efficient and secure alternative to an unreliable paper trail, with access to this information only granted to the gemstone’s current owner.

This new technology allows traceability along every stage of the value chain and provides seamless documentation for peace of mind. Information is encoded as well as being backed up on multiple servers, to prevent the data from being altered, deleted or manipulated, and to ensure that the individual history of each gemstone, from the mine to the final customer, is stored permanently and securely.

Gemfields aims to operate in a manner that contributes positively to the national economies of our host countries, and to build lasting, sustainable livelihoods for the communities around our mines. As a pioneering company, we seek industry-leading solutions using state-of-the-art technology: for example, our ruby sort house in Mozambique and our proprietary coloured gemstone grading systems, which revolutionised the coloured gemstone trading mechanism. We work to improve awareness and delivery of responsibly sourced African coloured gemstones all the way from mine operations through to the end consumer, while having a positive impact on the countries of origin.

We are pleased to have customers who care as passionately as we do about where their gemstones come from, and by adopting Provenance Proof Blockchain, we are able to give them the certainty that they deserve.