Richline Group a Proud Member of Jewelry Industry Initiative to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
As announced by the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, Richline Group—alongside jewelry industry leaders Signet Jewelers and Tiffany & Co.—is celebrating World Wildlife Day by announcing its commitments to support broad jewelry industry efforts in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
“The only way to stop wildlife trafficking is to band together, continue the jewelry industry’s existing steadfastness to legal compliance and to stop supply and demand. Everyone in this industry has an essential part to play,” said Mark Hanna, Chief Marketing Officer at the Berkshire Hathaway owned Richline Group, Inc. “Richline and our industry organization partners are committed to raise awareness and share best practices with our peers to achieve progress on this critical issue. We hope the announcements today will be a catalyst for a series of additional commitments from others in our industry.”
Richline Group’s commitments include keeping the elimination of wildlife trafficking part of best practice discussion, and to assist companies that want to update their codes of conduct through the newly introduced IvoryFreeJewelry.com.
“Worldwide demand for ivory and other illegal wildlife products is decimating iconic wildlife populations and supporting international criminal syndicates that are destabilizing governments and supporting terrorist groups,” said David J. Hayes, Chair of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance. “The Alliance is honored to partner with leading companies, conservation organizations, and the U.S. government to educate U.S. consumers and shut down U.S. demand for illegal wildlife products. By putting our wallets in line with our values we can work together to protect these treasured species for the benefit of our planet, our security, and future generations.”
Wildlife trafficking is a criminal, multi-billion dollar industry centered on the killing of endangered and threatened species to produce illegal products made from ivory, snake skins, animal furs, and other animal parts. The U.S. is one of the largest markets for these products, which means that demand from American businesses and consumers influences whether lions, elephants, pangolins, and other at-risk species will become extinct within our lifetime.
For a complete list of companies and NGOs partnering with the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance visit USWTA.org. For upcoming information on how jewelers can help fight wildlife trafficking, sign up at IvoryFreeJewelry.com.