The World Jewellery Confederation and Intertek Italia SpA offer the first-ever training and certification programme for sustainability officers working in the jewellery industry.

The online programme is operated under the auspices of the International Council for Sustainable Business.

The training programme is offered in a series of modules on a dedicated e-training platform, developed by Intertek. Presented by sustainability experts with special expertise in the gem and jewellery industries, they contribute to a student’s successfully obtaining the number of training hours that are mandatory for certified CSR/Sustainability/ESG officers.

The programme provides professionals from the gem and jewellery industry the knowledge, insight and practical tools necessary for applying practices related to Sustainability and CSR in their own businesses. These include strategies for implementing the company’s individual goals, tools for communicating sustainability initiatives worldwide, auditing techniques and more, as as well as information about laws and regulations specific to the industry, including the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, U.S. and European conflict mineral legislation, OECD due diligence guidelines, the WDC System of Warranties, Responsible Jewellery Council’s Code of Practice, CIBJO’s Blue Book on Responsible Sourcing, and others.

The certification is issued by Intertek, which is accredited by Accredia, the sole national accreditation body appointed by the Italian government in compliance with the application of the European Regulation 765/2008, which attests to the competence, independence and impartiality of certification, inspection and verification bodies. Accredia is a member of EA (European cooperation for Accreditation) and IAF (International Accreditation Forum). 

Potential candidates for the courses and certification would be entrepreneurs, employees of companies operating in the jewellery and gemstone industries, and individuals seeking employment as compliance officers in the sector.