Environmental Health Nonprofit Pure Earth Honours Jewellery Industry Leader Iris Van der Veken with Impact Award

08 Sep 2023

The international nonprofit Pure Earth, a leader in addressing global toxic pollution, will honour jewellery industry leader Iris Van der Veken with the 2023 Pure Earth Impact Award in a ceremony at the Pure Earth Benefit on October 16 in New York City. The Pure Earth Impact award is given annually to individuals whose contributions have resulted in extraordinary impact on global issues protecting people and the planet. Recipients serve as inspiring examples to all who take action to make positive change in this world.

Iris Van der Veken is being honoured with the 2023 Pure Earth Impact Award for her exceptional leadership over two decades, her long-term commitment to sustainability, the successful partnerships she has developed on the ground, and her strong activism on human rights and gender.

Richard Fuller, President and Founder of Pure Earth, shares,

“Iris has spearheaded ESG reporting, initiated the United Nations Global Compact Network for Belgium, and was the first woman to successfully lead the Responsible Jewellery Council. In her new role based in Geneva at the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030, she is again advancing the 2030 agenda through a multi-stakeholder approach and a strong partnership with the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women and ESG Book. She is truly a change agent, and she has sparked a movement that will not only protect the environment but also the lives of so many people working along the watch and jewellery supply chain.”

Iris Van der Veken, says,

“I am deeply honoured to receive this Impact award from Pure Earth. The jewellery industry is an important part of the solution and the work Pure Earth is doing to reduce global mercury emissions by championing responsible, mercury-free gold mining practices, that includes the reforestation of damaged land. We all have a shared responsibility to leave no one behind. Sustainability is a journey, and it takes CEO leadership and everyone's involvement throughout the supply chain to create a positive impact on the ground. It is not easy, and it requires hard work and commitment. I would like to dedicate this award to everyone in our industry, from mining to retail, that advances the 2030 agenda forward." 

Iris Van der Veken is currently the Executive Director of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030). Founded by Kering and Cartier, WJI 2030 is guided by the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. WJI 2030 brings together CEOs and decision-makers from all watch and jewellery players with a national and international footprint to make a meaningful difference on three key pillars: climate resilience, preserving resources, and inclusiveness. Its members engage with global experts on business and sustainability in a multi-stakeholder ecosystem. The work is focused on delivering concrete and measurable impact to the global jewellery and watch industry and society at large. In an ever-evolving consumer and regulatory landscape, WJI 2030 guides its members to be fit for purpose, building trust through transparency and measured progress.

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Source: Pure Earth