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| COMMITMENT TO THE KIMBERLEY
PROCESS |
For over 100 years, Birks and Mayors have lived by a set of principles
that have become the values and the ethics of Birks&Mayors Inc.
Paramount among our principles is to fully meet the responsibilities
of corporate citizenship by contributing to the well-being of society,
and the environment in which it functions. Operating a successful
business in more than 66 stores in North America requires more than
providing quality products and services. In order to retain consumer
confidence and trust, Birks & Mayors have a responsibility to
ensure that our business practices are environmentally sound and that
our products are safe and conflict-free. |
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Since 1879, Birks has set the standard across Canada for quality diamonds
providing meticulous grading and was also among the first to support
and work with the Kimberley process insuring the integrity of the
diamond supply chain.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an agreement to eliminate
the trade of conflict diamonds. Conflict diamonds (also called blood
diamonds) are those mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely,
to finance armed conflict and civil wars. Currently, 69 countries
participate in an international certification process that accompanies
shipments of rough diamonds between parties and would guarantee the
diamonds are conflict free.
In May, 1999, Birks initiated a program that would provide complete
tracking of Canadian diamonds and became one of the first jewelers
to acquire and sell diamonds mined in Canada. Birks is also a signatory
of the Voluntary Canadian Code of Conduct for Authenticating Canadian
Diamond Claims. |
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