Fairtrade gold reaches Australian shores
As the price for the precious metal surges on world markets, hundreds of thousands of workers are lured to seek their fortune in one of the world’s most dangerous industries. Sadly, because of their vulnerable position in the supply chain it is not the miners who benefit most from this ‘21st century goldrush’. Fairtrade is working to help these miners share in these benefits and improve their lives.
Introduced in 2011, Fairtrade Certified gold is the world’s first independent ethical certification system for gold and is now available in Australia. Fairtrade gold offers the guarantee of a product which has been responsibly mined from small-scale and artisanal mines in South America and Africa.
‘Though gold is mined in Australia, it is also one of our top imports. To consumers it doesn’t automatically spring to mind as a troubled industry, but gold mining in developing countries is riddled with issues, especially in small artisan mines. By purchasing Fairtrade Certified gold consumers can be assured that the small-scale and artisanal miners have been treated and paid fairly, with improvements to working and environmental conditions, ’ said Craig Chester, Operations Manager at Fairtrade Australia.
Jewellery using Fairtrade Certified gold is now being produced by Zoe Pook (www.zoepook.com), who designs each of her unique creations with gold from the Sotrami cooperative in Peru. Each ring in the collection is marked with the Fairtrade stamp which guarantees that the gold has been responsibly sourced and has been certified to Fairtrade Standards. The Fairtrade Gold Engagement Ring collection consists of six engagement rings, and bespoke ring designs can also be created by Zoe Pook using Fairtrade Certified gold. Wedding ring collections using Fairtrade gold will be released early next year.
Sotrami was the first Peruvian mining organisation to be Fairtrade Certified. In their first year of certification the community invested in healthcare, built an extension to the primary school and bought computers for the senior school thanks to the Fairtrade Premium, a set figure of US$2000 per kilogram of fine gold. Sotrami opened a not-for-profit convenience store which means the 500-strong community can buy food at reasonable prices.
Manuel Reinoso Rivas, President of the Association of Artisanal Miner Producers of Central and Southern Peru says: ‘Fairtrade certification motivates all artisanal and small-scale miners, men and women alike, to press for better working conditions and above all improved health and safety. We need to learn how to use clean, non-polluting technologies that will not only preserve our environment but also help us recover increased quantities of metals. In fulfilling this responsibility we are contributing to a better quality of life and setting an example to our own children and to future generations.’
