Design, Território e Sustentabilidade: proposta de índice para a cadeia produtiva de joias paraibanas

Abstract

This article presents the development of a composite indicator called the Sustainability Index in Jewelry Production (SIJP), designed to measure and compare sustainable production practices in the contemporary jewelry sector. The research is grounded in the need for effective public policies and in the potential of jewelry as an artifact capable of reflecting historical contexts and promoting sustainable local development. Methodologically, the study has an applied nature and a qualitative approach, using as its database the mapping of biojewelry production in the state of Paraíba. The indicator was constructed from a system that integrates environmental, social, and economic dimensions, allowing complex variables to be transformed into a metric that is easy to apply for management and monitoring purposes. The model was validated through a comparative analysis of biojewelry production in the municipalities of Cabedelo and João Pessoa. The results show that production in Cabedelo presents higher sustainability indices, indicating a positive correlation with the existence of structured municipal public policies, such as the “Cabedelo+Criativa” plan. It is concluded that the SIJP acts as a robust diagnostic tool, supporting both producers’ self-management and the formulation of governmental strategies to strengthen the territorial creative economy.