The role of design in sustainability management in the jewelry sector

Abstract

The jewelry sector in Brazil is made up of a chain of suppliers and producers that are interdependent, both in its own functioning and in terms of its strengthening in the face of the Brazilian economic scenario. Its strengthening depends on strategies that range from valuing the raw material extracted on Brazilian soil, inserting design as a vector of identity in products and government actions that are directed towards small local Productive Arrangements (APLs). The set of activities progressively follows one another and is articulated from the inputs or raw materials, considering their extraction and processing, to the final product, taking into account its distribution and commercialization. The extraction of stones in Brazil takes place through small companies, mostly in a rudimentary way in the mines located in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia, Goiás, Pará and Tocantins, from which a large quantity and variety of gems come out. Approximately 80%, by volume of gem production, is destined for export, both in the raw state and as an object of collection and polished. The figures show an increase in the export of rough diamonds, rough precious stones and precious metal products for the industry, while the export of jewelery and jewelery made of precious metals showed a decrease. Faced with the questions found, a discussion about the role of design as a vector for the appreciation of raw materials and Brazilian design is necessary. Through research both in the literature and in jewelry sector bodies and associations, the article seeks a review of geographic identifications in the Brazilian gemstone sector that result in an understanding of the importance of valuing the locality of design products.