Signet Jewelers - Responsible Sourcing

Our Commitment To Responsible Sourcing

Across all Signet brands, We have taken a leadership role in the development of harmonized industry guidance and standards for many years to ensure that our jewelry is made with integrity and sourced from a supply chain that is held to a higher standard.

RESPONSIBLE SOURCING WEBSITE FOR SUPPLIERS

Who we are

Leading the Way

As the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry, we know we must lead by example. Our dedication to product integrity is at the core of how we do business.

When a customer purchases jewelry from a Signet brand store, they can feel confident knowing that our jewelry has been sourced responsibly. When a customer asks a question about our sourcing practices, our Team Members have the information available to answer them. We are not only dedicated to our own supply chain, but are leading the efforts to foster increasingly transparent and responsible jewelry supply chains around the world.

The Signet Promise | Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol

Signet is fully committed to the responsible sourcing of our products and the respect for human rights, and we expect the same from our suppliers around the world. Our requirements for a responsible and conflict-free supply chain are defined in the Signet Promise, and includes the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP), last updated in September 2023.

DOWNLOAD OUR RESPONSIBLE SOURCING PROTOCOL

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP) The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendices for Gold and 3Ts The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendix for Natural Diamonds The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendix for Silver and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol Appendix for Colored Gemstones The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol Appendix for Laboratory-Grown/Created Diamonds (LGDs)

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP)

We have taken an industry-leading role by establishing our Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocols for Gold, and for Tungsten, Tantalum and Tin (3TG) which was instituted as a requirement for all suppliers in 2013.
We expanded the SRSPs in 2016 when we introduced our SRSP for Natural Diamonds and again in 2017 when we introduced the SRSP for Silver and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs). By closely collaborating with key partners throughout our supply chain, we designed flexible and adaptable systems that raise the standard for responsibly sourcing raw materials in the jewelry supply chain.

In 2019, the SRSP requirements for each mineral were incorporated into one Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol which covers Signet’s general requirements, and the SRSP was expanded to include colored gemstones as well as a specific appendix on human rights.
Requirements for lab-grown/created diamonds (LGDs) were included in 2020.
Signet suppliers access responsible sourcing training, SRSP related documentation and complete the annual online SRSP Report through a dedicated website, Signet Responsible Sourcing.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol and its appendices are aligned with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains and several industry standards. All jewelry suppliers to Signet are required to report annually that the products supplied to Signet are compliant with the SRSP. The Protocol is verifiable by third-party audit. To download a full copy of the Signet SRSP Audit Guidance click here.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendices for Gold and 3Ts

Based on international standards and guidance, Signet conducted extensive research and consulted with many of our suppliers to develop the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (“SRSP”). The purpose of the SRSP is to outline practical procedures that will reasonably ensure any gold, tin, tantalum, or tungsten, defined as “conflict minerals” by the OECD, the SEC and the EU, in products supplied to Signet are verified as responsibly sourced and "conflict-free". The SRSP appendices for Gold and 3Ts were established as company policy effective January 1, 2013.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendix for Natural Diamonds

In 2016 Signet introduced requirements in the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol for Natural Diamonds alongside existing SRSPs for Gold and 3Ts. The objective of the appendix for Natural Diamonds is to ensure that all Signet natural diamonds are responsibly sourced. These requirements are based on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains and build on the Kimberley Process and the World Diamond Council System of Warranties. From 2017, all Signet natural diamond and natural diamond jewelry suppliers were required to have the appropriate policies, systems and processes in place to evidence compliance with the SRSP.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol: Appendix for Silver and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs)

In 2017 Signet introduced Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol requirements for Silver and Platinum Group Metals (“PGMs”, namely platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, osmium and iridium) alongside existing SRSP requirements for Gold, 3Ts and Natural Diamonds. The objective of the SRSP appendix for Silver and PGMs is to ensure that all Signet precious metals are responsibly sourced. The SRSP appendix for Silver and PGMs is consistent with the existing SRSP for Gold and requires sourcing though accredited refineries and other suppliers defined in the SRSP. All suppliers of silver and PGMs were required to report compliance with the SRSP requirements in 2018.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol Appendix for Colored Gemstones

As part of our commitment to ensure the integrity of all the primary metals and minerals in our supply chain, Signet introduced the SRSP appendix for Colored Gemstones in April 2019. In order to ensure its responsible sourcing policies are both robust and workable, Signet approached the development of the new colored gemstone section of the SRSP through collaborative engagement with key suppliers. All suppliers of Colored Gemstones were required to report compliance with the SRSP requirements in 2020.

The colored gemstone SRSP appendix applies to all-natural colored ruby, sapphire and emerald gemstones supplied to Signet. The SRSP also includes disclosure requirements for laboratory grown colored gemstones. The scope of the SRSP may be expanded in the future to include other natural gemstones.

The Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol Appendix for Laboratory-Grown/Created Diamonds (LGDs)

In 2020, Signet expanded the SRSP to include an appendix for Laboratory-Grown/Created Diamonds (LGDs).

The LGD SRSP appendix requires all Signet suppliers of LGDs to ensure that all LGDs are manufactured in accordance with international standards for factory production, along with assurances for the product’s authenticity and detailed requirements for product disclosure and testing.

Additional Responsible Sourcing Initiatives

Diamonds Do Good / Diamond Empowerment Fund

The Diamonds Do Good Initiative was created by the Diamond Empowerment Fund, of which Signet has been a long-time member and supporter. Signet supports the Diamond Empowerment Fund/Diamonds Do Good mission because it focuses on how diamonds enrich the lives of people in the communities all along the supply chain. In 2016, Signet implemented a program to raise awareness of the initiative by displaying the Diamonds Do Good seal in US stores as well as promoting the initiative via our Kay, Jared and Zales websites.

Supplier Requirements

Supplier Code of Conduct

Signet Jewelers has the objective to operate as a profitable and responsible specialty jewelry retailer, delivering increasing value to our shareholders, while seeking to uphold our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and considering the interests of our other stakeholders: customers, employees, those with whom we do business, and society as a whole.

In seeking to achieve our objective we recognize that there are indirect impacts generated by our activities, through our supply chain. We will seek to use our influence with those with whom we do business directly, in particular our agents and suppliers, to promote the achievement of our ESG principles. As a customer we believe we have an opportunity to seek to influence the social, ethical and environmental performance of our suppliers in a positive manner. In order to do so it is necessary that our suppliers, and in turn their suppliers, should understand Signet’s standards as set out in this Supplier Code of Conduct (“Code”). Therefore, we encourage suppliers to ensure that this Code is communicated throughout our supply chain.

To read more about our Supplier Code of Conduct please click here.

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Supplier Compliance with the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol

Beginning in 2013, Signet produced global guidance for all suppliers of gold, tin, tungsten and tantalum (“3TG”). Compliance with the SRSPs for gold and 3Ts are a required legal imperative related to Signet’s SEC reporting. A revision to the SRSPs in 2018 combined all Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocols into one guidance document, with the compliance criteria for each mineral (gold, 3Ts, silver and platinum group metals, natural and lab grown diamonds, and colored gemstones listed in the appendices. (See the Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol section above).

The cornerstone of compliance with the SRSP is a requirement that suppliers report to Signet annually that they are sourcing materials supplied to Signet responsibly and in conformance with the requirements of all relevant appendices of the SRSP in their supply chains.

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Supplier RJC Membership Requirement

Signet is a founding and certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (“RJC”), which is the global standard for responsible practices in the jewelry industry. Companies certified under the RJC’s Code of Practices (COP) are demonstrating their commitment to the reputation of the jewelry industry, which is fundamental to maintaining consumer confidence.

As a result, and aligned with Signet’s dedication to the continuous improvement in the integrity of global jewelry supply chain, Signet has made RJC membership and certification a requirement for all suppliers.

As a clear benefit to our suppliers, RJC certification with the 2019 COP, which must include the supplier’s current Signet Responsible Sourcing Protocol (“SRSP”) report, gives Signet assurances about the responsible practices of each supplier company as well as confidence regarding responsible sourcing through each supplier’s supply chain. Suppliers which achieve this level of certification are not required to be audited separately by Signet.

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Our Supplier Audit Policy

Any Signet supplier who is not yet a Certified RJC member with the 2019 COP, see above) may be subject to an audit of their mandatory SRSP Compliance Report by an independent third party audit firm.

Audits are conducted on a 3-year rotational basis and Signet Suppliers are responsible for the expense of an audit.