Page 36 - Woman to Woman Magazine: Special Edition 2020

MINING

Sustainable Commercial Strategy

De Beers Announces gender parity, for employees across
its workforce , support 10,000 women
Ambitious 2030 Goals to entrepreneurs and engage 10,000 girls in
STEM (science, technology, engineering
and mathematics) subjects and increase
Build a Positive Lasting the diversity of creative talent in the
diamond jewellery sector.
Impact for Communities Bruce Cleaver, CEO, De Beers Group,

said, “As the world’s leading diamond
and The Natural World company, and in recognition of the
United Nations’ call for a ‘Decade
of Action’ to deliver the Sustainable
Development Goals, we have both a
The 12 Building Forever goals focus on leading ethical practices unique opportunity and a profound
across industry, partnering for thriving communities, protecting responsibility to create lasting benefits
the natural world and accelerating equal opportunity for the people and places where diamonds
are discovered. This is why our Building
Forever sustainability framework is
Beers Jewellers and Forevermark are central to our business strategy, and
found – to achieve a shared vision for a why we have set ourselves these 12
better future. ambitious goals. We are committed to
supporting a lasting positive impact that
The goals are based around four pillars: will endure well beyond the discovery
leading ethical practices across industry; of our last diamond, and it is only by
partnering for thriving communities; pushing ourselves to do more that we
protecting the natural world; and can maximise long-term benefits.
accelerating equal opportunity.
“People have always been able to give
Leading Ethical Practices across Industry. and wear our diamonds with pride, and
By 2030 De Beers will extend its Best by announcing our 12 Building Forever
Practice Principles (a set of leading ethical, goals and sharing our progress along
social and environmental standards) the journey, they can have a deeper
beyond its value chain to advance industry connection to the active role their De
standards, provide the origin and impact Beers Jewellers or Forevermark diamond
of every diamond it discovers and sells has played in protecting the natural world
then deliver scalable solutions to improve and improving people’s lives.”
e Beers today announced the livelihoods of artisanal miners.
12 ambitious sustainability Katie Fergusson, Senior Vice President,
goals for the coming decade, The company will also be partnering for Sustainable Impact, De Beers Group,
Dincluding achieving gender Thriving Communities, by 2030 De Beers added, “Born deep within the Earth
parity throughout its workforce, supporting will achieve priority UN Sustainable more than one billion years ago, and
10,000 women entrepreneurs in its Development Goal 3 (SDG3) health first discovered by humanity thousands
diamond producing partner countries and targets in all its partner communities of years ago, diamonds have a deep
being carbon neutral within its own , establish skills partnerships in all its connection to the natural world and the
operations by 2030. partner communities as well as supported communities near where they are found.
four jobs across its partner countries for We have made significant progress in
The 12 goals are part of De Beers’ Building every one job at its operations. recent years as we have sought to deliver
Forever framework – a sustainability positive outcomes throughout the sector
approach embedded in the business’s In an effort to protect the Natural World, and in our partner communities, but we
commercial strategy and focused on by 2030 De Beers will be carbon neutral recognise that there is still so much more
maximising the positive impact of across its operations and reduce its water we can do. On our journey to 2030, we will
diamonds on their journey from discovery footprint by 50% .It will also achieve a continue to innovate, challenge ourselves
to retail. The goals were developed to net positive impact on biodiversity. and learn from our partners as we work to
galvanise De Beers’ employees, partners achieve these ambitious goals.”
and consumers around the world – from De Beers will be accelerating equal
its four producer countries to the more opportunity and by 2030 De Beers will
than 30 countries where its brands De achieve equal opportunity, including Continues in Page 38
36 Noble Magazine // 2020 Special Edition