Education

Sustainability at Ajediam

At Ajediam we want our clients to feel confident about their purchases. We strive to improve every bit of our operations to create a product and service our team and our clients can be proud of and happy about. Do not hesitate to send us your questions or concerns.

Ajediam’s Conflict-Free Diamond Policy

Ajediam is committed to respecting international best practices when it comes to sourcing our natural diamonds. We do not sell, trade, endorse, or even engage with any products sourced from conflict areas. We work in compliance with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and United Nations resolutions. We are committed to working only with legitimate diamonds, gemstones, and metals.

The term ‘conflict diamonds’ and ‘blood diamonds appeared in the 90s during the Sierra Leone Civil war which ended in 2002. It refers to diamonds mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army’s war efforts, or a warlord’s activity. 

Such practices were not restricted to the Sierra Leone Civil War but often occurred wherever one finds mineral resources. Diamonds like all resources extracted or produced in war zones were used to fund either the mining state or the rebel militias seeking to undermine legitimate governments depending on who had military control over the mines. 

The UN wanted to put an end to these practices. Together with the state of South Africa, they set up an international certification system for rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process (KP) was created in 2003.

The KP brings together all entities involved in the production, exportation, and importation of diamonds: governments, civil societies, and the diamond industry. They are all bound by an agreement to regulate the trade in rough diamonds. Participation in the KP is an absolute requirement to operate in the diamond trade, whoever or whatever you are. 

The KP has succeeded in removing over 99% of conflict diamonds from the rough diamond trade. Today, the livelihood of 10 million people is supported by the diamond industry. The socio-economic benefits of the diamond industry are undeniable. Former Botswana President Mogae once said, “For our people, every purchase of diamonds means food, better living conditions, better health care, safe drinking water, more roads to connect our remote communities, and much more.” 

Read more about the benefits created by the diamond industry at diamondfacts.org, a website sponsored by the World Diamond Council.

Beyond The Kimberly Process, Towards Sustainability

Naturally, the KP and socio-economic after-effects of the diamond industry have their limitations. Today we live in a world where international trade ethics and environmental issues force constant questioning and require severe adjustments. At Ajediam, we strive for a green and ethical approach in our entire production process. 

Turning every step we take into sustainable actions is not an easy feat but we believe it is necessary. The first steps we take are to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. Our office is progressively going green by reducing waste and consuming consciously in our day-to-day operations. We take a step further to reduce waste and benefit our customers by creating a handmade box that can be kept and repurposed in their homes.

Sustainability goes beyond caring for the environment. Under the management of OnlyJewels, Ajediam is finding its new marks. We are inspired by several corporate management philosophies among which, are those of Ricardo Semler. We embrace and promote diversity in our team as well as in our campaigns. Our team members and collaborators come from different countries, backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities. We benefit from it every day. We have the privilege to be able to choose talented collaborators who, we believe, represent the true contemporary diamond and fine jewelry scene. Finally, Ajediam is a female-led operation.

How do you see the future of sustainable business? We would love to start a conversation with you. Send us your thoughts on this matter at admin@ajediam.com