Wal-Mart adds a new facet to its fine jewellery lines: traceability
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has launched Love, Earth(R) jewelry, which is its first line of completely traceable fine jewelry, only available in Wal-Mart stores, Sam’s Club locations and on Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. The new line, that changes the way how the affordably-priced fine jewelry is made and sold, is the result of the collaboration between Wal-Mart, Conservation International (CI) and Walmart’s supply chain partners. It will give customers the ability to trace the path of their Love, Earth jewelry from mine to store by using Internet.
Love, Earth is the Wal-Mart’s first step in order to achieve that all the gold, silver and diamonds used in jewelry that is sold in Wal-Mart stores and Sam’s Club locations come from mines and makers that meet Wal-Mart’s sustainability standards and criteria. The standards and criteria include environmental rights, human rights and community issues. By 2010, Walmart hopes that at least 10 percent of its jewelry offerings can achieve these standards.
“Wal-Mart recognizes that our customers care about the quality of their jewelry and its potential impact on the world,” Pam Mortensen, vice-president and divisional merchandise manager of Wal-Mart. “With Love, Earth, customers are getting an affordable and beautiful piece of jewelry that also helps sustain resources and strengthen communities.”
Customers can visit http://www.loveearthinfo.com to see where their jewelry was mined and made, and to know the social and environmental programs of the suppliers. The website also offers information on the standards used to select to the suppliers and ensure the entire process is more sustainable.
Shopping directory: Jewelry

The rising platinum price has driven away the jewelry buyers around the world, but the Chinese demand is still important, due to the strong economic growth, Johnson Matthey Plc reported . (Johnson Matthey is a specialty chemicals company focused on catalysts, precious metals, fine chemicals and process technology).