Diamond, Newsletter, Press Release

GCAL Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

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GCAL Annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report 2023-2024

1. Executive Summary

In 2023, and the first half of 2024, GCAL by Sarine continued to uphold its commitment to ethical practices, environmental sustainability, community engagement, human rights due diligence, and employee welfare. This report outlines our achievements, challenges, and future goals in our CSR initiatives, emphasizing our dedication to maintaining the highest standards in the diamond grading industry.

2. Introduction

GCAL by Sarine is dedicated to ensuring the highest level of integrity in our diamond grading processes. Our CSR efforts reflect our commitment to supporting ethical sourcing, environmental sustainability, community support, human rights due diligence, and employee well-being. This report highlights our progress and impact over the past year.

3. Ethical Sourcing and Supply Chain Management

Policies on Ethical Sourcing: GCAL is committed to supporting our customers’ sourcing conflict-free diamonds and adhering strictly to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. This helps to ensure that the diamonds passing through our lab are not linked to violence or human rights abuses.

Initiatives to Ensure a Responsible Supply Chain: We partner with suppliers who share our ethical standards, in an attempt to ensure that every diamond we grade is sourced responsibly.

Success Stories or Case Studies: One notable success this year was our collaboration with major suppliers to trace the journey of diamonds from mine to market, ensuring transparency at every step.

4. Environmental Sustainability

Efforts to Reduce Carbon Footprint: GCAL has implemented energy-efficient technologies in our facilities, significantly reducing our carbon emissions.

Policies on Waste Reduction and Recycling: We have comprehensive recycling programs for paper, plastic, and glass, ensuring minimal environmental impact.

5. Philanthropy

Philanthropic Activities: GCAL supports many philanthropic causes, and donates annually to multiple programs, supporting Jewelers for Children

6. Employee Welfare and Development

Policies on Employee Well-Being: GCAL ensures a safe and healthy work environment, prioritizing the well-being of our employees.

Training and Development Programs: We provide continuous professional development opportunities, helping our employees grow and excel in their careers.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives: GCAL promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing the unique perspectives and backgrounds of our employees.

7. Customer Engagement and Transparency

Transparency in Business Practices: GCAL maintains clear and open communication with customers, building trust through transparency.

Customer Feedback and Trust Metrics:

  • Customer satisfaction ratings remain high.
  • Increased number of customer inquiries related to CSR, indicating growing interest and engagement.

8. Future Goals and Commitments

Looking ahead, GCAL is committed to enhancing our current CSR initiatives and setting new goals to further our impact. We aim to:

  • Encourage our landlord to Increase use of renewable energy sources.
  • Engage in community outreach programs.
  • Continuously promote our mine to market technological solutions, which promotes ethical sourcing practices.

9. Human Rights Due Dilligence

At GCAL, we are unwavering in our commitment to upholding and promoting human rights across our entire supply chain. Our human rights due diligence process is a cornerstone of this commitment, ensuring that every link in our supply chain adheres to the highest ethical standards. We conduct assessments of our largest customers to verify their compliance with our rigorous human rights criteria.

Impressively, more than 90% of our major customers are either directly RJC (Responsible Jewellery Council) Certified or are wholly owned subsidiaries of RJC Certified members. This certification is a testament to their adherence to industry-leading practices in human rights, labor rights, and environmental stewardship. The remaining customers, while not RJC Certified, are led by highly reputable owners who are deeply involved in prominent industry organizations and initiatives. These leaders demonstrate a proactive and robust commitment to ethical business practices and human rights advocacy.

This thorough and meticulous due diligence process not only ensures that our operations are free from human rights violations but also reinforces our reputation as a leader in ethical diamond grading. By working closely with customers who share our values, we continually foster a supply chain that is both responsible and resilient, dedicated to making a positive impact on the industry and beyond.

10. Conclusion

GCAL by Sarine remains steadfast in our dedication to corporate social responsibility. We are proud of our achievements this year and are committed to making even greater strides in the future. We call on all stakeholders to support and engage with our CSR efforts, as we continue to set the standard for integrity and responsibility in the diamond grading industry.

For more information, please read our Policy Statement below

Policy Statement

GCAL is committed to respecting every individual, be they employee, customer, supplier or the ultimate consumer. GCAL celebrates the diversity of its employees and all others, takes pride in providing fair and equitable treatment to all and strives to be socially and environmentally conscious in all it does. This Corporate Social Responsibility Policy embodies GCAL’s value of ethics and responsibility, which encourages promoting the highest standards of individual behavior, personal accountability and social responsibility as a company and in all our corporate, industry and outside relationships.

This Policy applies to all GCAL employees.  Further, it is the responsibility of all employees to understand this Policy and to comply. Failure to comply with this Policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Responsibility

1.   Responsible Executive – President and Founder

1.1 Maintain accountability for the substance, implementation and compliance of this Policy;  and

1.2 Oversee policy owner activities in the administration of this Policy.

2.   Policy Owner – COO and Compliance Officer

2.1 Has operational responsibility for the Policy, procedures, instructions and forms under the direction of the responsible executive. This includes managing all phases of Policy initiation, development, approval, implementation, review and retirement processes.
2.2 Ensures that all departmental employees are aware of this Policy by providing access, assistance, interpretation, application, and communicating the Company’s expectation for compliance.

3. Employee

3.1 Understands that this Policy applies to them and conducts themselves accordingly

Policy

1.  Laws and Regulations

1.1 GCAL will adhere to the governing laws and best practices in the US, and countries which it serves.

2.  Internal Audits and Assessments, Certifications, Commitments

2.1 GCAL conducts an annual, internal audit and assessment, verified by internal site assessment teams, and in compliance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ensure compliance with laws and conformance with certifications and commitments.

2.2 GCAL undergoes an annual external, third-party audit and verification assessment  conducted by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to maintain its ISO 17025 Forensic Accreditation

2.3 GCAL commits to being a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and commits to being independently audited against the RJC Code of Practices (an international standard on responsible business practices for diamonds, gold and platinum group metals). 

3.  Anti-Bribery and Corruption

3.1 GCAL has a zero tolerance policy toward bribery and corruption and does not tolerate corruption in any form, including the bribery of government officials and inducements offered to others. GCAL adheres to anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in the in the US, and countries which it serves. Each employee is required to annually sign a policy that covers bribery, corruption, ethics, and confidentiality

4. No Retaliation

4.1 GCAL prohibits retaliation against any individual who in good faith files a concern or is involved as a witness or participant in the concern investigation process. Engaging in unlawful retaliation will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination or dismissal from GCAL.

5. Reporting a Concern

5.1 GCAL takes all concerns seriously.  Concerns may be raised using the following methods:

GCAL’s ISO Customer Complaint Mechanism:

· Phone: 1 212-869-8985

· Email: iso@gemfacts.com

6. Workforce

6.1 GCAL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its hiring practices.

6.2 GCAL prohibits unlawful discrimination or harassment.

6.3 GCAL provides fair and equitable compensation and benefits that meet or exceed the laws and regulations in the countries in which it operates.

6.4 GCAL supports and respects the fundamental dignity and the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.

6.5 GCAL respects the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining as permitted by law.

6.6 GCAL will not restrict an employee’s freedom of movement.

6.7 GCAL will not engage in any form of forced or compulsory labor.

6.8 GCAL prohibits child labor. GCAL only employs those 18 years of age or older.

6.9 GCAL prohibits any form of corporal punishment.

7. Health and Safety

7.1 GCAL will maintain a safe and healthy environment for its employees and visitors, and will strive to continuously improve the company’s culture of safety, health and environmental stewardship.

8. Environment

8.1 GCAL will promote sustainable operational practices whenever possible, seek to reduce waste in its facilities and to abide by environmental safety standards in its global communities.

8.2 GCAL will strive to use its resources efficiently to meet the needs of its employees and customers, while operating in a manner that is environmentally and socially responsible and economically sound.

9. Human Rights

GCAL respects human rights by considering all potential and actual impacts in our operations and business relationships. We commit to, and implement, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as appropriate, in our business

9.1 GCAL has a human rights due diligence process to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse human rights impacts that are connected to our business.

9.2. We provide for, or support legitimate processes to enable, the remedy of any adverse human rights impacts that we have caused, contributed to or been linked with.

9.3. GCAL will communicate annually with stakeholders about our human rights due diligence efforts and remedy activities in accordance with RJC COP

9.4 GCAL will communicate our human rights policies to our suppliers to ensure they are living up to the standards we have set, internally.

Angelo Palmieri, VP, Partner

Gem Certification & Assurance Lab, Inc.