Mining Standards
IceCarats Jewelry is concerned about the environmental and social impacts of irresponsible mining practices. We are determined to source gold and other precious metals produced under the highest social, human rights, and environmental standards. We are working to ensure that the gold and other precious metals in our products were not provided at the expense of communities, workers, or the environment. We require our suppliers adhere to these same principles and to be in compliance with the conflict minerals laws which Congress passed as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to target conflict minerals, including gold, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DCR) and the surrounding region. We wholeheartedly condemn the use of any metals to fund conflict in the DRC in its adjoining countries or anywhere in the world. As a condition of doing business with IceCarats, suppliers must agree to require all parties involved in the mining, processing, and manufacturing of the products IceCarats sells to respect workers' rights and labor standards and to not source gold from areas of armed or militarized conflict where there is a high risk for human rights violations. Suppliers must further agree to support the development of an independent, third-party verification system that verifies that gold and other precious metals meet these criteria.
Since the Kimberly Process passed in 2003, about 99% of the diamonds are conflict-free. But, IceCarats.com goes above and beyond that:
We only buy from suppliers that guarantee their diamonds and gemstones are conflict-free.
We believe in being 100% conflict-free (blood diamond free).
Our Conflict Diamonds Policy
Team Members are vital to IceCarats' ability to achieve its objectives and mission. Therefore teamwork, integrity, communication, and fair treatment all play an essential part in the way the Company operates. Furthermore, IceCarats' ability to act under its Principles is dependent on its Team Members' understanding of them and how they impact on their respective roles and responsibilities.
IceCarats is not to tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination on any grounds or at any level. In respect of people with disabilities, we give full and fair consideration to employment, opportunities for training, career development, and promotion according to their skills and capacity. The services of any existing Team Members who become disabled are, where possible, retained, and appropriate training is arranged for them wherever possible. There are dispute resolution procedures in place in both divisions. Signet assigns responsibility for human resource matters, including health and safety, to divisional executive management committees. Both the US and UK operations have established systems that include the provision of training and development opportunities at all levels of the organization.
