We know how important responsibility in the jewelry industry is. The impact among the world consumers, our customers, but in particular among employees in our organization and the local community.
Because of this, we are actively working for the United Nations Sustainability goals in the local community and among our suppliers. As an industry, we are especially working and focusing on 10 of the goals, and we aim to fulfill all of them by 2025.
Production
The gemstones we use for our jewelry production are all from the Aappaluttoq mine, located at the Kitaa coast (West coast). The gemstones that are extracted are rubies and sapphires, which is said to be among the oldest in world – approximately three billion years old. Greenland Ruby extract and sell the Greenlandic rubies and sapphires Business2Business from RubyCloud.
To ensure the most sustainable production, we want to utilize all gemstones from the mine. As a result of this Kitaa – Gemstones of Greenland was established as a sub brand to Greenland Ruby.
Those gemstones not sold to Business2Business is set in jewelry designed by local Greenlandic designers and artists branded as Kitaa – Gemstones of Greenland directly to you.
At the same time Greenland Ruby is the first colored gemstones mine in the world, to be a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council. You can learn more about the membership here.
Our vision is to produce jewelry here in Greenland and thus contribute to the development of our local community in Greenland.
The local community
Responsibility is not just about utilization of resources from the Aappaluttoq mine. In particular, it also concern the local community around us. Hence, it is essential for us to know employees at the Aappaluttoq mine are a local Greenlandic workforce.
The local community are an important part of the mining operation 365 days all year. Local companies, independent fishermen and hunters delivers the necessary resources and services, such as provisions, crew transportation, spare parts and so forth.
Environment
The mining industry carries a special responsibility towards the environment, as it traditionally can be hard for the surrounding nature. The ambition is that the Aappaluttoq mine must be a precedent example regarding responsibility – not only as a mine, but also in the entire Greenland.
For instance, the mine is equipped with the only fully automatic water cleaning plant in Greenland, which ensure that all water used in the mine and camp is cleaned. As soon as it becomes possible, the mine will secure its power supply by solar energy. There is a constantly focus on waste reduction and continuously monitoring of the environment in and around the mine.
When the deposit of rubies and sapphires are fully extracted, the entire landscape and environment will be reestablished. Meaning the mine will be completely closed, the camp removed and the area is left so that it does not bear the footprint of human presence.
Therefor we can say with confident that Kitaa – Gemstones of Greenland is responsible toward the environment, which supply us with these unique Greenlandic gemstones.
