Sustainability at the Heart of Luxury Jewellery: DANAT Leads the Way

Luxury is no longer defined solely by craftsmanship or exclusivity, it is increasingly measured by responsibility. The session examined how environmental stewardship, ethical sourcing, and transparency are redefining value across the industry from raw materials to the end consumer.

Industry leaders including Ms. Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering Group; Ms. Iris Van der Veken, Executive Director of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030; and Ms. Noora Jamsheer, CEO of the Bahrain Institute for Pearls & Gemstones (DANAT) came together at an engaging session hosted by the National Communication Center at DANAT, Bahrain World Trade Center, to explore how traceability, ethical sourcing, and practical ESG initiatives are reshaping the watch and jewellery sector.

At the heart of the discussion was the role of DANAT, whose core mandate focuses on preserving Bahrain’s natural pearl beds, maintaining the quality of pearls, and ensuring their long-term abundance. These efforts underline the importance of striking a balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship in an industry intrinsically linked to nature. The session also highlighted DANAT’s role in environmental stewardship and the promotion of ESG standards across the jewellery sector, with particular focus on its collaboration with the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 and CIBJO.

This partnership has led to the launch of the SME Solutions Lab on Sustainability, which provides practical tools to help small and medium-sized enterprises integrate ESG considerations into their operations. Speakers emphasized that sustainability is no longer a concept confined to philanthropy but a fundamental pillar of modern business strategy.

With nearly half of the world’s GDP dependent on nature, understanding how industries impact the climate and ecosystems has become critical. This shift is further reinforced by a new generation of consumers who are actively questioning whether products are sustainably sourced and responsibly produced.

Ms. Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability & Institutional Affairs Officer at Kering Group and Co-Chair of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030, highlighted that modern luxury is inseparable from sustainability. She noted that practices such as responsible gold mining are essential, as poorly managed extraction can cause significant environmental harm. Luxury brands, she added, are uniquely positioned to set trends – whether by eliminating single-use plastics or adopting sustainable packaging without compromising brand value.

A key takeaway from the session was the growing importance of traceability as a practical sustainability tool. Once seen as a distant ambition, traceability is now increasingly achievable through improved data and supply-chain mapping. This enables companies to identify the origins of raw materials, balance extraction levels, particularly in pearl harvesting—and provide greater transparency to consumers.

The discussion also highlighted practical support mechanisms for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including the SME Solutions Lab on Sustainability – a specialised initiative designed to help SMEs across the jewellery supply chain adopt ESG standards, mitigate climate risks, and implement sustainable management systems.

The initiative also promotes collaboration, allowing insights and best practices to be shared across industries while supporting emissions measurement and inclusive growth. As data capabilities evolve, the ability to tell the full journey of materials such as gold from source to consumer is becoming a reality. The session concluded with a clear message: sustainability begins with responsible sourcing, is strengthened by transparency, and thrives through collective effort – firmly positioning sustainability as the new definition of modern luxury.