Fairtrade goldsmiths scheme receives 100 applications in three months
100 small jewellers have applied to register as Fairtrade goldsmiths in the three months since the scheme was introduced.
The 100 jewellers have potential collective clout to deliver $100,000 US (£59,000) in Fairtrade premium back to artisanal and small scale mining communities in South America.
Fairtrade’s system now allows small jewellers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, and artists to use ethically sourced Fairtrade gold and silver in their jewellery by registering through a simple online goldsmiths registration scheme.
Reena Agarwal, commercial account manager for Fairtrade Gold, said: “It’s a great time for small jewellers to engage with Fairtrade. The ethical jewellery market is rapidly growing and the Fairtrade Mark is the most widely recognised ethical certification label globally.
“Fairtrade gold and precious metals is a groundbreaking initiative that offers a lifeline to poor and exploited small-scale miners around the world. It is the best way to communicate the benefits of responsibility sourced metal to customers.”
Small jewellers purchase certified Fairtrade gold and precious metals from a choice of five dedicated ‘master licensees’ in a semi-finished form, such as sheet, wire, tube or casting grain.
Fairtrade says the benefits of the scheme include free annual registration and “very little” administration. In return, those joining agree to abide by certain terms and conditions that include only using certain pre-determined marketing materials and agreeing to the annual limits of 500g of gold or platinum or two kilograms of silver.
Since becoming Fairtrade-certified, mining groups surviving in desert landscapes have been able to invest in projects for water, electricity and improvement of educations and health projects including study and sports grants for students.
Groups have also improved safety procedures and equipment and introduced new technologies to advance production methods and increase the amount of gold they can extract.
