World’s first Fairtrade gold – a labour of love
The World’s first Fairtrade gold has launched in the UK, with 20 companies, including the world’s oldest jeweller Garrard, selling collections for Valentine’s Day.
Twenty companies in the UK, including the oldest jeweller Garrard, have become the first in the World to stock Fairtrade Gold.
A partnership between the Fair Trade Foundation and the Alliance for Responsible Mining to protect the workers of small scale mines, the Fairtrade and Fairmined gold launched to celebrate Valentines Day (14 February).
Livia Firth, Fairtrade ambassador and wife of actor Colin Firth said: “We associate gold with love and beauty but there is often nothing beautiful about the way that gold is produced. Tens of millions of small-scale gold miners risk their lives in often appalling conditions and get a raw deal for their strenuous efforts.”
Twenty jewellers, including ethical jeweller Cred, the world’s oldest jeweller Garrard, and bespoke jeweller Harriet Kelsall, are the first to sell the gold.
Harriet Kelsall said: “We are committed to educating people about the difference they can make by choosing Fairtrade over standard gold and hope one day to have so much demand that we can convert all our gold over to Fairtrade.”
The Fair Trade Foundation hopes to roll the product out to more countries, and aims to supply 5 per cent of the total gold jewellery market by 2026. Both collections and one off pieces are available, including wedding rings, engagement rings, earrings and necklaces.
Globally, over 100 million people depend directly or indirectly on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The International Labour Organisation says there are over six times the number of accidents in ASM compared with large-scale mining, mainly due to a larger labour force and poorer working conditions.
Miners risk their health by working with toxic chemicals used to process gold, such as mercury, cyanide and nitric acid. Communities lack basic sanitation, clean and safe drinking water, have little or no access to health and education services and little legal protection.
Currently only one mine has been certified for the Fairtrade production – the Cotapata mine in Bolivia – but more mines in Peru and Colombia are due to join the scheme in the next couple of months.
Harriet Lamb, executive director of the Fairtrade Foundation, said: “Fairtrade and Fairmined gold has the potential to tackle unfair supply chains, improve working and environmental conditions and deliver tangible and sustainable economic benefits to impoverished communities. Now that is what I call a labour of love.”
Companies involved in the scheme are: Amanda Li Hope, April Doubleday, Caratess, Cred, Jewellery, EC One, Element Jewellery, Fifi Bijoux, Foundation Jewellery, Garrard, Harriet Kelsall Jewellery, Ingle and Rhode, Leblas, Linnie McLarty, Oria, Pippa Small Jewellery, Stephen Webster, Ute Decker Sculptural Jewellery, John Dibben.
Image: Bala | flickr