What is Fairtrade Gold? Reasons to Buy it

Despite gold jewellery being a symbol of love, power, and wealth, the reality behind it often isn’t so glamorous. Gold mining takes place worldwide and is carried out in four different ways: placer mining, hard rock mining, byproduct mining, and the processing of gold ore. In non-Fairtrade mines, the workers extract the metal using harsh chemicals such as mercury, which is toxic to both the miners and the environment. Despite the method being harmful, they cannot afford to use safer methods of extraction. Unfortunately, toxic chemicals can lead to brain and kidney damage, birth defects, and the contamination of water supplies. When this happens, the toxins can then enter the food chain through poisoned fish. Currently, non-Fairtrade mining is the biggest source of mercury pollution in both air and water. Fair-trade mines, on the other hand, receive a guaranteed Fair-trade Minimum Price for their gold. Additionally, they receive a Premium to spend on improving their business. Over time, this means that they can afford safer methods of extraction and minimise the use of harmful toxins. In this article, we explore Fairtrade gold and the reasons to buy it.

What is Fairtrade Gold?

Fairtrade Certified Gold is an independent ethical certification system for gold. In Fairtrade certified gold mines, the workers receive a Fairtrade Minimum Price for the product they retrieve. Additionally, they receive additional money to spend on improving their business. With this Premium, they can afford to use safer methods of extraction and move away from processing gold ore. This can then help them to improve their business and generate more sales long-term. As the Fairtrade Gold Standards have strict requirements on health and safety and working conditions, the miners don’t need to worry about toxin-related health concerns later down the line. The Standards also have strict requirements on child labour, women’s rights, and protection of the environment.

Gold Mining Methods

There are four main gold mining methods, the first of which is placer mining. With this method, the gold is extracted by metal detecting, panning, sluicing, and dredging. This is the most common mining method for amateurs as it requires no special skills. The gold is retrieved using gravity and water to separate the precious rock from the surrounding materials.

The second method is hard rock mining. In this process, an open pit or underground mining tunnels are used to retrieve the gold from the surrounding rock. One of the safest methods of mining, this technique is used to recover most of the world’s gold supply.

The third method is byproduct mining. This technique is similar to hard rock mining in that mining tunnels or an open pit are used. As the name suggests, gold is a secondary find of byproduct mining. The main purpose of the search is to retrieve sand, gravel, and copper. However, enough gold can be found to make byproduct mining a profitable method.

The final method is the processing of gold ore. This method is often used in small-scale mines in third world countries. Almost all non-Fairtrade gold is mined using this method. Due to the low gold yield and environmental impact associated with this technique, the processing of gold ore is becoming largely depreciated. Gold ore is extracted from the Earth’s crust as a finely crushed rock. Trace amounts of gold are then extracted using a chemical process.

Reasons to Buy It

Fair Price

When you buy Fairtrade gold, miners and producers get a fair price for their goods. This money can then be used to support their family, business, and improve their working environment.

Premium

When you shop Fairtrade, the producers get a Premium in addition to their fair price, which they can spend on improving their business or community. Often, this is spent on life-changing things such as local medical centres, hospitals, or new schools. The producers decide how they’d like to spend this money, but it must be spent on improvements to the business or community.

The Environment

Fairtrade producers are educated and encouraged to invest in the environment. Often, this allows them to go organic. While some farmers already have this education, many don’t have the means to achieve it. The Premium they receive from Fairtrade gold can help this to become a reality. Additionally, Fairtrade gold mines are discouraged from using harmful toxins. Not only does this preserve the health of the workers, but it also does wonders for the environment.

Sustainability

Buying Fairtrade gold jewellery is an important step towards proper sustainability. In the West, we currently live an unsustainable lifestyle. If we don’t find a way to live more sustainably, we won’t be able to continue this way of living long term. Buying Fairtrade products means that you’re moving away from unsustainable low pricing and unethical product sourcing. Instead, you’re moving towards a future that allows miners and producers to be empowered. Fairtrade not only looks after the producers but also our entire future.

Trust

When you buy Fairtrade gold jewellery, you’re buying a product you can trust. The Fairtrade foundation ensures each product that contains the Fairtrade mark is of great quality. With Fairtrade gold, you can rest assured that your product does all of the above things and more.

In Summary

Today, more and more people are buying Fairtrade jewellery. Gone are the days when Fairtrade shoppers were a niche. It’s often suggested that if 4 out of 10 people are doing something it is considered to be ‘normal’. If this is the case, it’s now ‘normal’ to buy Fairtrade gold. This means that shopping Fairtrade will not only achieve the above, but it also means you’ll keep up with the times! To do your bit, just look out for the distinctive blue and green mark.