Responsible Sourcing | Signet Jewelers

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), updated anually.

Signet’s Responsible Sourcing Protocol (SRSP) and our supplier expectations are aligned with:

• The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)  is the mechanism the Kimberley Process uses to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.
• United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
• OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals
• Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Code of Practices
• International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions via our Supplier Code of Conduct
• US Customs and Border Protection’s Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism
• Gemstone Enhancements, Treatments, and Country of Origin Compliance document
• Conflict Diamonds and Illicit Diamonds, Gemstone, and Precious Metals Trading Compliance

Additionally, the SRSP:

• Covers all precious metals and stones, including lab-grown diamonds
• Prohibits undisclosed lab-grown diamonds
• Applies to all product specification and quality requirements

These standards guide expectations for ethical conduct, human rights, and responsible business practices across the supply chain.

• Signet is a founding and five-time certified member of the RJC, actively supporting the RJC Code of Practices (COP), the global standard for ethical, human rights, social, and environmental practices in the jewelry industry.
• Signet requires all of our Key Tier 1 Suppliers to be RJC-Certified members.  Our Key Tier 1 suppliers list is updated annually in our Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability Report. RJC Certification requires independent, third-party audits every three years, covering 45 provisions within six areas:
• General Requirements
• Health, Safety & Environment
• Responsible Supply Chain, Human Rights & Due Diligence
• Product Integrity (Gold, Silver, PGM, Diamonds, Gemstones)
• Labour Rights & Working Conditions
• Responsible Mining & Mineral Processing

An annual SRSP compliance report, required of all merchandise suppliers each October, ensures accountability, transparency, and thorough supplier compliance management. Signet has mechanisms in place to suspend purchasing with suppliers that do not submit their SRSP or Due Diligence Questionnaire reports.

We require all suppliers to:

• Maintain strong internal management systems
• Conduct supply chain mapping
• Apply Know Your Customer process elements: Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act agreements
• Adhere to Signet’s Human Rights Policy and follow RJC Code of Practice Standards on human rights

• Strategic and key suppliers must achieve RJC Certification, which includes comprehensive third-party audits.
• Non-RJC Certified or higher-risk suppliers are evaluated using risk-based audit criteria and may undergo independent Documentation and Ethical/Factory audits, as applicable, to assess:
• Health, Safety & Hygiene
• Environmental Management
• Child Labor and Young Workers
• Working Hours
• Wages & Benefits
• General Labor Practices
• Third-party audits through our auditor QIMA include comprehensive metrics evaluating factories’ environmental accountability, covering legal compliance, waste, wastewater, emissions, noise, and resource efficiency.  Nonconformances are submitted to Signet via a QIMA audit report. 
• All suppliers remain subject to audit at any time, based on our ongoing risk assessments.

We maintain clear protocols for addressing non-conformance:

• Suppliers must submit Corrective Action Plans
• Signet forms long-term partnerships with suppliers for Capacity Building to guide suppliers in operationalizing ethical practices
• Follow-up audits are conducted to ensure issues are remediated
• Suppliers failing to resolve issues may face suspension of purchasing

• At Signet, all store team members and support center team members are required to take annual Responsible Sourcing training. As part of the training, team members learn of the foundational principles of the RJC, WDC, and Kimberley Process which support the Signet Promise.  In the training, team members read and review Signet’s Human Rights Policy in its entirety.
• Internally, all managers and above, including merchandising team members with purchasing authority, receive annual compliance training to ensure understanding of the comprehensive procedures in place to ensure supplier compliance with the company's environmental supplier standard. The training covers:

• SRSP compliance and its mandate for all suppliers, with annual reporting, risk assessments, and audits forming the backbone of the process
• Clearly defined procedures for non-compliance, ensuring that any supplier failing to meet standards is subject to corrective action or removal from the supply chain
• That Signet’s approach is aligned with international standards (OECD, RJC, Kimberley Process), setting a benchmark for the industry