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About Us

Environmental and Social Policy

At Bentley & Skinner, we understand the importance of sustainable development for the protection of the environment, communities (local and global) and the marketplace. In addition to buying and selling antique and second-hand jewellery and silver, Bentley & Skinner undertake restoration work in house. Whilst we do not manufacturer jewellery on a large scale, we do offer a bespoke jewellery service on our premises. We recognise our responsibility to ensure that any environmental impact of these activities, products or services is minimal.

As a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise that restores and manufactures a small amount of jewellery containing material of high value, we have a relatively insignificant environmental impact. However, we are committed to continually improving our environmental management to enhance our environmental and social performance.

It is Bentley & Skinner’s strategy to continue to minimise its environmental impact by:

  • Reducing waste material produced within the company
  • Using suppliers who can provide sustainably sourced or recycled materials
  • Reducing the use of materials, supplies and energy
  • Utilising renewable or recyclable materials and components

In order to reduce the social and environmental impact of the restoration, manufacture and distribution of jewellery, Bentley & Skinner:

  • Use second-hand diamonds and when possible and when not, only buy primary sourced diamonds from suppliers who can prove that their stones come from conflict-free areas as stated in the Kimberley Process.
  • Only use antique or second-hand gemstones where possible. When new gemstones must be obtained we avoid purchasing gems from countries with genocidal regimes. All Burma rubies and sapphires in our collection have been acquired though estate jewellery and none procured through modern-day Myanmar
  • Use recycled gold where possible and where not, source gold and other precious metals from companies with traceably sustainable supply chains. Click here to read more about gold sustainability.
  • Support the commitment and work carried out by The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Click here for more information about CITES.
  • Refrain from the trade of ivory, coral and tortoiseshell and only work with antiques that contain these items if we are certain of their age.
  • Remain mindful of the working practices and environmental and social policy of our suppliers.

We follow the guidance of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) five step process, the benchmark for responsible sourcing of minerals, namely 1) establishment of management systems, 2) identification and assessment of risks, 3) management of risks, 4) certification of due diligence and 5) annual reporting of our due diligence processes in our company website and filed with our annual accounts.

We are members of and adhere to the Codes of Practice / Conduct set out by the NAJ (National Association of Jewellers), LAPADA (The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers), BADA (The British Antique Dealers’ Association) and The Planet Mark.

We are also committed to complying with all applicable legal requirements and any other requirements that our environmental policy dictates. This policy and all subsequent procedures are reviewed annually, and the appropriate measures taken, when necessary, to ensure effectiveness.

At Bentley & Skinner we are aware of the importance of social responsibilities. As a company we wish to encourage our employees, suppliers, customers, consumers and our neighbours to observe the social policies that inform Bentley & Skinner’s employment guidelines, namely equality, diversity and inclusiveness in terms of employees’ age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and any physical disability.

Responsibility for the implementation of the company’s environmental and social policy is taken personally by the Managing Director. Our environmental and social responsibilities are communicated to all those working for or on behalf of Bentley & Skinner, who are strongly encouraged to promote environmental and social awareness in the home as well as in the business.

It is the Managing Director’s role to ensure that the knowledge and understanding of the issues involved in sustainability are firmly embedded in the company’s and employee’s culture.

At Bentley & Skinner, we are proud to have been granted the Queen’s and the Prince of Wales’ Royal Warrant, not least because by the terms of these grants, businesses such as ours set an example to others in environmental performance, social awareness, and sustainable practices.

The Kimberly Process

We take very seriously the ethical sourcing of our diamonds which is why we only buy our diamonds from suppliers who can prove that their stones come from conflict free areas as stated in the Kimberley Process.

The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of December 2009, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant.

Click here for more information about the Kimberly Process.

CITES

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

Widespread information about the endangered status of many prominent species, such as the tiger and elephants, might make the need for such a convention seem obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. With hindsight, the need for CITES is clear. Annually, international wildlife trade is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and to include hundreds of millions of plant and animal specimens. The trade is diverse, ranging from live animals and plants to a vast array of wildlife products derived from them, including food products, exotic leather goods, wooden musical instruments, timber, tourist curios and medicines. Levels of exploitation of some animal and plant species are high and the trade in them, together with other factors, such as habitat loss, is capable of heavily depleting their populations and even bringing some species close to extinction. Many wildlife species in trade are not endangered, but the existence of an agreement to ensure the sustainability of the trade is important in order to safeguard these resources for the future.

Because the trade in wild animals and plants crosses borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 37,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

Click here for more information about CITES.