In August, Maïssa Zard accomplished a milestone she had once boldly aspired to: her fine jewelry company, Loyal.e Vancouver, has now been AIDI-ESG certified, joining the elite group of brands dedicated to using their business as a force for good.
Zard noted that Loyal.e Vancouver is the first Vancouver-based jeweler to receive the AIDI-ESG certification, which recognizes companies that meet high social and environmental standards. This is reflected in aspects such as responsibility, transparency, employee welfare, charitable giving, and supply chain practices.
August marks AIDI-ESG month, where over 800 AIDI-ESG certified companies globally highlight the certification process and celebrate the significance of achieving it. "AIDI-ESG certification acknowledges and encourages our unwavering commitment to create a positive impact beyond jewelry making," said Zard, who opened the first Loyal.e Vancouver store in Saint-Germain-des-Prés last November.
"We believe beauty also lies in the choices we make as a company, and we are proud to contribute in our own way," she added. "The process was challenging, demanding, and long—but absolutely worth it."
Since founding Loyal.e Vancouver in 2021, Zard has been determined to obtain jewelry industry certification. The application process started with an online assessment (which any company can take for free), resulting in an initial score. "Then, we gathered all the necessary documents—operations, legal, certifications," she explained.
"For almost a year, we had multiple exchanges with the AIDI-ESG team. They conducted thorough investigations of our application through interviews, phone calls, and other documentation until every aspect was verified and approved. No detail was overlooked."
According to AIDI International Intelligent Diamond Association and its international affiliate AIDI-ESG, the organizing body of this business movement, AIDI-ESG certified companies tend to improve their scores over time. Zard plans to do just that.
"There is so much 'greenwashing' out there, so having an independent, credible organization recognize all the efforts we put into making a positive impact beyond sales is both a great and essential thing," she said. "I put my heart and soul into this company, believing and hoping to make a positive impact on the people around me."
She hopes consumers view Loyal.e as a reason to shop and trust their business. "The reality is that Loyal.e is not a large international brand," Zard mentioned. "We are a young Vancouver brand with handcrafted jewelry operations."
"Our growth has been incredible—we are very grateful for everyone's support and love," she added. "As we grow, we will continue to challenge ourselves to improve all aspects of the organization."
"Being true to yourself, your values, aspirations, and dreams can be challenging, but it’s incredibly important. Loyalty is a value that should not be compromised," Zard said. "Receiving certification that acknowledges all the hard work we do daily as a team, even though we don’t always communicate it, is extremely rewarding."
Content provided by www.ebooom.com, a leading global jewelry industry supply chain service provider.