The Making Impact Symposium
In collaboration with Edinburgh’s Incorporation of Goldsmiths, Making Impact welcomed a broad audience to the University of Edinburgh to explore the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
To learn more about our legacy - from the UK's first ethical jewellery conference to today, check out the long-read blog post.
Wednesday 3rd April 2019
Almost five years since the founding of Fair Luxury, we welcomed delegates to the UoE’s impressive West Court Lecture Theatre for another sold-out conference. As an increasing number of businesses discussed their uses of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help them prioritise and communicate areas for social, environmental and economic impact, Making Impact invited jewellers and silversmiths, gemstone dealers, mining experts, students and academics to explore how the SDGs relate to jewellery and metalwork practice.
The SDGs: A solid framework
We were welcomed by IoG’s Director Mary Michel, who introduced the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals; the universal framework designed to move people from poverty, lifting the most deprived first. With a specific focus on quality education and responsible consumption/production, this conference was conceived to encourage us each to consider the global perspective of what we do.
Emily Auckland, chair of the UK Stakeholders for Sustainable Development, presented a summary of the UK’s progress towards the goals and the targets underpinning them. At the time, we were sadly on track to achieve just a quarter of the 169 targets, so Emily asked us all to think about our impact on the wider world, and how working more collaboratively with our suppliers and peers could help us to maximise positive benefits.
A variety of voices
The day offered a platform to a variety of perspectives, backgrounds and innovations, and the audience was hugely receptive to the idea of a framework against which to measure businesses and track progress. Fair Luxury team member Stuart Pool (Nineteen48) presented the PACT/GIA ‘Mines to Markets’ programme, helping artisanal and small-scale miners understand the true value of what they’re extracting. Jewellery designer Hannah Bedford was interviewed by VIPA Designs’ David Crump, discussing an increasing consumer desire for jewellery that tells stories and how jewellers can adapt their offering to foster more transparency. Dr. Sandra Wilson from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design explored the notion of the ‘urban gold rush’, and the opportunities to extract gold from electronic waste in landfill. Then-Chief Executive of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Simon Forrester discussed the association’s Better Business initiative. We scratch merely the surface.
“Scotland leads the ethical jewellery discussion. There are significant challenges for the mineral extraction sector, but by working with refiners and manufacturers, makers and retailers, we can help motivate the value chain to use their business as a positive force for change. It’s great to see a focus on experimentation and the questioning side of making ethical products. Start small and grow tall – don’t be shy or intimidated. Ask ‘where do my ingredients come from?,’ inspire consumers to ask and be ready with a clear answer.”