RJC’s New Standards for ‘Recycled’ Precious Metals: What You Need to Know

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has unveiled a revised definition for recycled precious metals, now categorized into three distinct types. These updates align with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and expand the scope to include all precious metals, ensuring greater transparency and accountability within the jewelry industry.

A Refined Approach to Recycling

The RJC’s updated chain of custody standard—a framework for responsibly sourcing and trading metals—now recognizes the following categories:

1. Pre-consumer materials: Metals recovered during manufacturing.
2. Post-consumer materials: Metals reclaimed from used products.
3. Waste and mixed materials: A combination of pre-consumer, post-consumer, and waste metals.

RJC members must now declare the specific type of material used, adding another layer of traceability.

Expanded Ethical Practices and Sustainability

The council has also strengthened its code of practices, covering:

• Human rights due diligence: Clear guidelines for protecting labor and community rights.
• Grievance mechanisms: Improved systems for addressing stakeholder concerns.
• Supply-chain due diligence: Detailed standards for ethical sourcing.
• Greenhouse gas emissions: Stricter requirements for environmental sustainability.
• Enhanced inclusivity and diversity initiatives.

These changes aim to align with emerging global standards for mining and mineral processing, promoting a more sustainable and equitable jewelry trade.

Industry and Public Feedback

The updates follow an extensive feedback process:

• Three rounds of public consultations, each lasting 60 days.
• A 30-day focused consultation on the “recycled” standard, attracting over 1,200 comments from industry and non-industry stakeholders.

Raising the Bar for the Jewelry Industry

By refining its standards, the RJC continues to lead the charge in ethical and sustainable practices for precious metals. These changes not only enhance consumer trust but also position the industry to meet growing global expectations for responsible sourcing.