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KARP is privileged to be a DTC Sightholder since 1993. While such privilege ensures access to reliable and consistent supplies of rough diamonds across a wide range of sizes, it also reflects the kind of responsibilities that KARP accepts. These represent KARP's commitment to its suppliers, channel partners, eventual consumers and its own social conscience.
As a DTC Sightholder, KARP:
• Complies with Best Practice Principles (Assessed and Verified by SGS, Geneva)
• Assures adherence to the Kimberly Process
• Ensures Consumer confidence measures
• Guarantees Conflict free diamonds
• Executes Diamond Manufacturing Excellence (cut by world standard craftsmen)
• Exceptional standards of Community Service
• Compliance to Pipeline Integrity (Assessed and Verified by SGS, Geneva)
The Best Practice Principles set out various required standards of conduct with regards to three main areas:
• Business Responsibilities
• Social Responsibilities
• Environmental Responsibilities
Business Responsibilities ensure that all operations act responsibly and ethically and in compliance with the law - for example in sales transactions, supply chain management, sourcing of diamonds, interaction with the local community and other stakeholders and overall business relationships. This applies to the practices of every employee at every level.
Social Responsibilities ensure that business is conducted so that the De Beers Family of Companies and business partners look beyond economic profit and work towards generating real social value in the communities in which we operate.
Environmental Responsibilities ensure all operations adopt the highest standards required by law with regard to their impact on the environment. The Best Practice Principles are supported by an ‘Assurance Programme’ which ensures compliance by all parties. Compliance is third party audited by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance). There is also further fourth party assurance by URS (United Registrar of Systems Ltd) to review the quality of work and competencies of SGS as a third party verifier.
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’.
KPCS has evolved into an effective mechanism for stemming the trade in conflict diamonds and is recognized as a unique conflict-prevention instrument to promote peace and security. The joint efforts of governments, industry leaders and civil society representatives have enabled the Kimberley Process to curb successfully the flow of conflict diamonds in a very short period of time. Diamond experts estimate that conflict diamonds now represent a fraction of one percent of the international trade in diamonds, compared to estimates of up to 15% in the 1990s. That has been the KP’s most remarkable contribution to a peaceful world, which should be measured not in terms of carats, but by the effects on people’s lives. |
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