Created in 1906, Van Cleef & Arpels is a High Jewelry Maison based on the values of creation, transmission and expertise. Each jewelry and timepiece is inspired by the heritage of the Maison and tells a timeless story with a universal and cultural background, and expresses a positive and poetic vision of life.
The respect of our natural environment, well-being of our employees and our communities are part of the culture of the Maison. This policy explains Van Cleef & Arpels commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) amongst its customers, employees, shareholders, supply chain partners and civil society as a whole.
The Maison is committed to creating a sustainable future for business, society and the environment. It shares its savoir-faire in its CSR and engages with its stakeholders, as we all can make a contribution to sustainable development.
Van Cleef & Arpels supports a circular economy concept in the deployment of its activities, which means that wherever possible, it avoids a linear “take, make, dispose” system and supports innovative circular models, which aim to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, and to design out waste.
As a member of the Responsible Jewellry Council (RJC), Van Cleef & Arperls fully adheres to ans complies with the RJC Code of Practices and promotes the RJC principles in the diamond, gold and, platinum group metals supply chain. As a Maison belonging to the Richemont Group, Van Cleef & Arpels maintains the highest standards of honesty and integrity in carrying out its business activities, while ensuring respect for its stakeholders in accordance with Richemont’s Standards of Business Conduct.
The Maison conducts business with a fundamental respect for the rights of the people it employs, does business and interacts with, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. In order to address, monitor and mitigate impacts on Human Rights, Van Cleef & Arpels is adhering to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The Maison shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Finally, it regularly monitors its CSR policy and its performance and implements measures to continuously improve.
Responsible Employer
Van Cleef & Arpels provides a safe, healthy, fair and inspiring workplace through a culture of strong values and teamwork. Its guiding principles for health and safety are described in its Environment, Health and Safety Policy. The Maison offers development opportunities to its team members and provides them with skills to manage its business. It values diversity and promotes equal opportunities in recruitment, employment, development and retention.
Responsible Sourcing
Van Cleef & Arpels strives to source its raw materials responsibly, respecting ethical business practices, human and labour rights and the environment. The Maison also requires its suppliers to adhere to the Richemont Supplier Code of Conduct and asks them to ensure compliance of their own operations with these guiding principles. The Maison also expects that its suppliers communicate and encourage their own contractors and vendors to incorporate these principles into their business policies and practices. Van Cleef & Arpels will continue to work collaboratively with industry organisations and its business partners to promote best practices across the full value chain. It will work on solutions to source its materials sustainably on a long-term scale.
Environmental Responsibility
Van Cleef & Arpels continuously seeks to improve its environmental management in order to reduce its impact, and focus on finding innovative solutions, that promote a circular economy. Validated by the Science-Based Target initiative in September 2021, our SBTs as part of the Richemont Group provide us with a clearly defined pathway to reduce our impact on climate change by 2030, while future-proofing our business for greener growth.
The CITES treaty
The leather and coral used in our creations respect the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This treaty regulates the trade in endangered wild plant and animal species.
In order to comply with the art. 11a al.3 of the "Protected Species Act" (Loi sur les espèces protégées; "LCITES"; RS 453), the following information is provided:
- Scientific name: Alligator Mississippiensis
- Origin: wild
- CITES Appendix: Appendix II
- Scientific name: Corallium Secundum
- Origin: wild
- CITES Appendix: Appendix III
- Scientific name: Corallium Elatius
- Origin: wild
- CITES Appendix: Appendix III
Community investment
The Maison is committed to allow a wider spectrum of society to participate in its positive vision of life, by sharing its values of creativity, transmission and expertise. By contributing to community investment activities in the field of culture, art, heritage, education and the environment, Van Cleef & Arpels endeavors to create a positive impact for society.
1. We commit to respect human rights, avoid contributing to the finance of conflict and comply with all relevant UN sanctions, resolutions and laws.
2. We commit to:
a. respect human rights according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Labour Organization Fundamental Rights at Work;
b. do not engage in or tolerating bribery, corruption, money laundering or financing of terrorism;
c. support transparency of government payments and rights-compatible security forces in the extractives industry;
d. do not provide direct or indirect support to illegal armed groups; and
e. enable stakeholders to voice concerns about our supply chains.
In addition, we are implementing the OECD 5-Step framework as a management process for risk based due diligence for responsible supply chains of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
3. We also commit to using our influence to prevent abuses by others.
4. Regarding serious abuses associated with the extraction, transport or trade of gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones, we will neither tolerate nor profit from, contribute to, assist or facilitate the commission of:
a. torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment;
b. forced or compulsory labour;
c. the worst forms of child labour;
d. human rights violations and abuses;
e. war crimes, violations of international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity or genocide.
5. We will immediately stop engaging with upstream suppliers if we find a reasonable risk that they are committing abuses described in 4 or are sourcing from, or linked to, any party committing these abuses.
6. Regarding direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups:
We only sell or purchase diamonds that are fully compliant with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and, as such, will not tolerate direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups, including, but not limited to, procuring diamonds from, making payments to, or otherwise helping or equipping non-state armed groups or their affiliates who illegally:
a. control mine sites, transportation routes, points where diamonds are traded and upstream actors in the supply chain; or
b. tax or extort money or diamonds at mine sites, along transportation routes or at points where diamonds are traded, or from intermediaries, export companies or international traders.
7. We will immediately stop engaging with upstream suppliers if we find a reasonable risk that they are sourcing from, or are linked to, any party providing direct or indirect support to non-state armed groups as described in paragraph 6.
8. Regarding public or private security forces:
We affirm that the role of public or private security forces is to provide security to workers, facilities, equipment and property in accordance with the rule of law, including law that guarantees human rights. We will not provide direct or indirect support to public or private security forces that commit abuses described in paragraph 4 or that act illegally as described in paragraph 6.
9. Regarding bribery and fraudulent misrepresentation of the origin of gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones:
We will not offer, promise, give or demand bribes, and will resist the solicitation of bribes, to conceal or disguise the origin of gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones, or to misrepresent taxes, fees and royalties paid to governments for the purposes of extraction, trade, handling, transport and export of gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones.
10.Regarding money laundering:
We will support and contribute to efforts to eliminate money laundering where we identify a reasonable risk resulting from, or connected to, the extraction, trade, handling, transport or export of gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones.
Please feel free to contact us with any question you may have.
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