The Star is awarded to suppliers and partners who have demonstrated excellence in innovative methods and initiatives in ethical sourcing, environmental, economic and social responsibility.

 

 

Birks & Mayors' initiatives include the company's active participation in the Kimberly Diamond process, ensuring the integrity of the diamond supply chain.

 

All of the silver and gold used in the production of the Birks Vancouver 2010 Olympic Jewellery was sourced via its key partners, two ethical and sustainable companies; Mammoth Tusk Gold, which serves as the benchmark in employing ethical standards in the mining industry, and Teck Cominco Ltd., recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

 

John Orrico, Brkis & Mayors' senior vice-president and chief supply chain officer, said: "We are extremely proud to be selected as a recipient of the Sustainability Star.

 

"This award recognises our commitment to our sustainability efforts and our corporate social responsibility programs.

 

"Moreover, our associates are to be congratulated for their efforts to create awareness and drive a sustainability culture within the company.

 

"Our customers share in this award and can take great pride in knowing their purchases are supporting a worldwide movement of responsibility."

 

Other Birks & Mayors sustainability commitments also include, the Canadian Boreal Initiative endorsed in 2007, when BIRKS became the world's first luxury jeweller to join environmental, industry and Aboriginal leaders in their efforts to protect the ecological and cultural integrity of the Boreal region as a signatory of the Boreal forest Conservation network.

 

Ann Duffy, Vancouver 2010's corporate sustainability officer, said: "We are constantly amazed by the ingenuity and commitment our sponsors and partners have shown towards promoting sustainability at the 2010 Winter Games.

 

"These projects are all new or scaled up for the Games or host region and will play an important role in the legacies left for generations to come.

 

"They also demonstrate how sustainability can be woven into any aspect of an organisation and can drive business and social innovations."

 

Vancouver 2010's sustainability management and reporting system provides a road map to help officials implement its six sustainability performance objectives - accountability, environmental stewardship, social inclusion, Aboriginal participation, economic benefits and sport for sustainable living - as it moves through the pre-Games, Game time and post-Games phases.

 

In order to be awarded a Sustainability Star, an innovation must demonstrate two or more sustainability features - social, economic and/or environmental; be directly linked to the 2010 Winter Games; produce a measurable outcome; and be new to the Vancouver 2010 Games region or the Games in general, or significantly scaled up through the 2010 Winter Games.