Penelope Cruz wears fair trade gold on the red carpet in Cannes

The actress stepped onto the red carpet in Cannes wearing two pieces from her new fine jewelry collection with Atelier Swarovski — matching earrings and a ring in white 18-karat fair trade gold set with Swarovski lab-created diamonds and lab-created rubies.

The collection served as an announcement of Atelier Swarovski’s decision to create all of its pieces with responsibly sourced gold. Cruz will launch the entire sustainable line during Paris Haute Couture Week in July.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, 9/5/18

Conflict minerals: MEPs secure mandatory due diligence for importers

European Parliament press release

All but the smallest EU firms importing tin, tungsten, tantalum, gold and their ores will have to do "due diligence" checks on their suppliers, to stop this trade being used to help fund conflicts and human rights abuses, says a political understanding reached by MEPs, ministers and the EU Commission on Wednesday March 16

. Due diligence will also be mandatory for smelters and refiners. The EU Commission will press big manufacturers to disclose details of products that might contain conflict minerals.

"We need to finally break the vicious cycle between trade in minerals and the financing of conflicts - today marks an important waypoint towards achieving this goal. It is a first step for the EU to make a real difference for people on the ground. We need to end the suffering of people being forced to mine precious metals and do our utmost to prevent violent conflicts. We succeeded in pushing for mandatory measures instead of a voluntary system – a huge success achieved by the European Parliament", said Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange (S&D, DE)

"I note with great satisfaction that the shared-responsibility approach, promoted by me as a Rapporteur, has prevailed during the very difficult and highly technical negotiations. It is extremely important that the recognition of existing and future due diligence industry schemes has become the central element of the Conflict Minerals Regulation. I stand committed to the agreement that has been reached between the co-legislators on the way forward. This common understanding is an excellent basis for continuing the work towards an efficient and workable regulation, truly serving the interests of people and communities caught in war and conflict", said rapporteur Iuliu Winkler (EPP, RO).

MEPs win mandatory due diligence rules for importers

MEPs persuaded ministers that due diligence checks, conducted according to OECD due diligence guidelines, should be mandatory for importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold and their ores from conflict and high-risk areas. The Commission and Council initially proposed only voluntary checks. EU member states’ competent authorities will be responsible for ensuring compliance by companies, and also for determining penalties for non-compliance, to be monitored by the EU Commission.

No burden on small firms

MEPs and ministers, aiming for almost full coverage of the imported minerals and metals, agreed that the smallest importers (e.g. for dentistry) should not be obliged to comply with a due diligence scheme, so as to avoid encumbering their businesses with unreasonable bureaucratic burdens. Recycled metals, existing EU stocks and by-products are excluded from the regulation.

Disclosure requirements for big EU manufacturers and sellers

Parliament also secured an EU push for due diligence by companies whose products contain tin, tungsten, tantalum or gold in their supply chain. Big EU firms that make or sell such goods - i.e. those subject to EU law on "non-financial reporting" (above 500 employees) - will be encouraged to report on their sourcing practices based on a new set of performance indicators to be developed by the EU Commission. Moreover, these businesses will be able to join a registry to be set up by the Commission and report voluntarily on their due diligence practices.

Review clause

The deal also requires the EU Commission to review and report to Parliament and the Council on the effectiveness of the new law – both its impact on the ground and the compliance by the EU firms, and, should it not suffice to induce the desired effect, consider additional mandatory measures.

Next steps

The technical details of the legislation agreed in principle on Wednesday still need to be worked out. The Dutch Presidency of the Council has pledged to conclude the informal legislative negotiations with the MEPs before its term ends on 1 July. Further political "trilogues" (three-way talks) under the Slovak presidency might be needed to seal the final text of the legislation before it is approved by Parliament in plenary session.

Alliance for Responsible Mining and Responsible Jewellery Council reducing the burden of audits

Organizations like the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) have developed standards and certification systems to help businesses make their supply chains more transparent and responsible.

In response to the industry’s demand for reduction of audit burden, ARM and RJC have decided to harmonize their assurance systems where possible and pilot combined Fairmined and RJC’s Chain-of-Custody (CoC) audits. 

Read further on the ARM website

Bringing South Africa’s Small-Scale Miners Out of the Shadows

"In a country with unemployment rising above 25 percent, South Africans are increasingly looking for job creation in small-scale mining, an often-informal industry that provides a living for millions across the continent."

Read further the article by Mark Olalde, IPS 

EU reaches deal aimed at sustainable mineral, metal supply chains

The EU institutions has reached an agreement on new legislation directed at ensuring that minerals and metals entering the 28-nation bloc are transparently and responsibly sourced and do not play a role in financing human rights abuses and conflict in high-risk areas.

Read further the article of ICTSD

Have you heard of the OlympicLaurel?

Fairmined Ecological Gold available from Mongolia and Colombia

The Alliance for Responsible Mining announces today that Fairmined Ecological Gold from the Mongolian organization XAMODX and five mining organizations in la Llanada, Colombia is now available.

Fairmined Ecological Gold is produced under the same strict standard for responsible mining as regular Fairmined Gold in terms of social, organizational and economic criteria but whereas Fairmined Gold is produced with responsible management and reduction of toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide, miners producing Fairmined Ecological Gold do not use any toxic chemicals at all in the gold processing.

“We are happy to announce that there is now an available supply of Fairmined Ecological Gold. The miners who produce Fairmined Ecological Gold take pride that they do not use toxic chemicals and are an example of how gold mining can be practiced in a way that takes measures to minimize the environmental impact.” Said Kenneth Porter, Head of Fairmined Business Development in the Alliance for Responsible Mining. “There are jewelers that have been requesting specifically for gold that is extracted without any use of mercury or cyanide. Now they can support these miners by sourcing Fairmined Ecological Gold and add value to their jewelry by using the Fairmined Ecological Gold label.”

The mining organizations offering Fairmined Ecological Gold are currently the only artisanal mining organizations in the world with a third-party certified chemical-free gold production. In Mongolia, XAMODX was the first Asian organization to ever obtain Fairmined Certification thanks to the Support of ARM’s ally the Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) Project who has also been a key partner in establishing supply chains from Mongolia. The mines in La Llanada, Colombia, have inspired other miners to follow and five other organizations are now working with ARM towards Fairmined Ecological Certification.

In the US, Argen Jewelry Division has recently been authorized to supply Fairmined Gold and have worked together with Fairmined Licensee Toby Pomeroy and Liberty Refiners to bring a stock of Fairmined Ecological Gold from Mongolia to North America with the support from ARM and the SAM Project.

“We are delighted that the North American market now has access to certified Mongolian Fairmined Ecological gold; gold that is responsibly mined without the use of mercury or other toxic chemicals. It is traceable from mine to customer and contributes to the quality of life for this visionary mining community that has fulfilled the extraordinary commitment to achieve Fairmined Certification.” Said Toby Pomeroy, President and Director at Toby Pomeroy tm.

For more information on the differences between Fairmined Gold and Fairmined Ecological Gold please consult ARM’s explanatory document.

Outside North America Fairmined Ecological Gold can be provided upon request. For more information please contact info@fairmined.org

Fairmined boosts its traceability

Traceability and assurance are the most important pillars of the Fairmined Certification System, guaranteeing that Fairmined products are what they are claimed to be. That is why the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) is happy to announce that the improved traceability and certification management solution for the Fairmined System, Ecert, is now up and running. 

All actors in the Fairmined supply chain, from the miners to the operators and licensees, are now reporting Fairmined sales and purchases through the online portal Ecert that was put into use on the 1st of January 2016.  

“As a certification system grows, it is important to implement this kind of professional IT system to ensure the documental traceability of the certified metals and enhance credibility and confidence with our stakeholders”, said Lina Villa-Córdoba, Executive Director in the Alliance for Responsible Mining. “Implementing Ecert is a first step on our way to make the participation in the Fairmined supply chain easier and more cost-effective without compromising the quality of assurance”. 

Also in Vipa Desings, a Fairmined licensee since 2015, the implementation of Ecert is a welcomed feature of the Fairmined System:

“Having a traceability and certification management solution like this means we can confidently be a link in the chain, knowing that there is an increased transparency in the process” said Peter Crump, Managing Director at Vipa Designs.

Ecert provides the Fairmined supply chain actors with a way to keep track of their Fairmined transactions while allowing ARM and the auditors authorized by ARM to control the integrity of the chain of custody more efficiently and cost-effectively.

Through the user-friendly online portal, the users can access the system to report and analyze their sales and purchases and manage their audits and certification process online. Guides and tutorials on how to use the system can be found on ARM´s website.

Ecert was developed by Intact Consult, an experienced specialist in the field of audit and certification management. 

New comic in French about the Fairmined Standard

"This is all well and good, Demba, but how does Fairmined Certification support us miners?” This is among the many questions that Drissa and his miner colleagues ask Demba, another member of the mining community in this new booklet. The comic seeks to make the formalization process towards the production of responsibly mined minerals certified under the Fairmined Strandard easy to understand and accessible to all.

The booklet has been created by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) with drawings by Senegalese drawing artist Malang Sene, aka "Kabs" based on field visits to the eastern mining area of Senegal and creative exchanges with artisanal miners in the region. Its publication is part of the UNIDO led project "Creating a responsible artisanal gold mining supply chain and reduction of mercury emissions in West Africa" that ARM and Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) are implementing in the region.

The comic shows typical situations experienced in gold mining in Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal using images and simple texts to overcome the obstacles of reading and writing difficulties. It directly targets the miners themselves but can also be useful to organizations that support mining groups. The comic will soon be translated into local languages and other training booklets might follow in the future.

With the booklet, ARM seeks to provide actors committed to responsible mining with a tool for the adoption of best mining practices. It is also an instrument for the diffusion of the Fairmined formalization tool designed to support the evolution of responsible mining operations in the region.

Go to the publication (French)

Fairtrade certified mining practices are worth their weight in gold | The Guardian

Fairtrade certified mining practices are worth their weight in gold | Sustainable Business - Fairtrade partner zone | The Guardian

Ugandan Fairtrade gold: the early beginnings of a shining future - The Guardian

"Artisanal and small-scale miners in Uganda are working on a pilot scheme to put in place the necessary changes to allow them to apply for Fairtrade certification"

Read further: Ugandan Fairtrade gold: the early beginnings of a shining future | Sustainable Business - Fairtrade partner zone | The Guardian

The Last Gold Rush A Documentary about Fairtrade Gold

From www.youtube.com 

The Last Gold Rush was produced by the Fair Trade Jewellery Company in 2008 to educate other Fairtrade producers on the importance of mining certification for communities in Colombia's Choco rainforest.

Nsangano: Tanzania's first fairtrade gold mine

From www.youtube.com 

Nsangano gold mine in the Geita district, North of Tanzania lake zone, is one of three Tanzanian mines which will soon receive the Fairtrade label - a testament to the ethical practices and fair treatment which go on at the plant.

UK: Businesses Back Fairtrade Foundation's Bridal Campaign

Fairtrade Foundation. Press Release: Retailers, jewelers, designers, goldsmiths and casting houses have signed up to take part in the Fairtrade Foundation’s bridal campaign "I Do" in the U.K. next spring 2015.

Encouraging British couples to choose Fairtrade gold when they get married, the campaign will drive traffic to an online hub where they can learn more about Fairtrade gold. The hub will provide information about where to buy Fairtrade gold jewelry, how to choose a design, a ring size guide and inspiration for brides wanting an ethical wedding. Brides can also enter a competition to win a basket of Fairtrade goodies to enjoy at the bridal shower.

The aim of the I Do campaign is to make Fairtrade gold wedding rings the default bridal purchase for couples getting married, with an ambitious target to sell 100,000 Fairtrade gold wedding rings to 50,000 couples, generating $1 million in Fairtrade Premium for mining communities. The campaign will raise consumer awareness levels of Fairtrade gold through a combination of earned and bought social and digital media activity with a view to driving sales.

Designers and staff selling Fairtrade gold will also be entered into a prize draw to win a trip of a lifetime to Tanzania with the chance to visit smallscale gold miners who are working towards becoming Fairtrade certified. Staff can either nominate themselves or be nominated by colleagues to enter the competition.

All campaign partners will be listed on our dedicated online campaign hub, due to launch in December, which will feature their company logos.

Point of sale materials including strut cards, window stickers, postcards as well as generic Fairtrade gold marketing leaflets will be available to support sales teams and individual jewelers amplify the campaign in workplaces, in store and online. The Fairtrade Foundation will also provide companies with specialist training to help support sales of Fairtrade gold.

Michael Gidney, the CEO of the Fairtrade Foundation, said, “The I Do campaign offers the Fairtrade Foundation’s committed business partners with an engaging way to encourage their existing and new customers to consciously choose Fairtrade gold for that special occasion. Fairtrade gold is the leading sustainability solution for jewelers and retailers and should become part of their ethical offering.”

Fairtrade provides independent certification that economic, social and environmental standards have been met and that producers have been paid a fairer, stable price. Fairtrade miners also earn a Fairtrade premium, which is invested into product quality and projects that will benefit their community.

Sales of Fairtrade products reached $3 billion (GBP 1.78 billion) in 2013 and consumer awareness of the FAIRTRADE Mark is high, with 78 percent recognition among U.K. consumers.

Businesses interested in supporting the campaign can now offer Fairtrade gold via three separate business models, relative to their size and volumes of gold they are using.

For more information and campaign materials, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gold.

The difficult search for fair trade gold

The production of one single golden ring generates 20 tonnes of highly toxic waste and requires 50,000 litres of water. These numbers are impressive. Also, mining companies are seldom champions in respecting the local populations.
The sector tries to redeem its negative image with standards and codes while NGOs work with cooperatives of artisanal miners towards producing fair trade gold.
The first fair trade jewels were sold in 2011, but there are still many obstacles to overcome before miners will actually enjoy a better – golden? – future.

Read the article

Video: Green Gold - Oro Verde