Fairmined Gold
What is Fairmined Gold?
Fairmined gold is an assurance label that certifies gold from small scale mines all over the world. These mines must adhere to standards set by Fairmined, which help to transform mining into a force for good ensuring environmental protection.
Fairmined certified gold was first sold to the market in 2014 and, since then, 1475kg of gold has been sold and approximately $5.9 million in Fairmined premium was paid to certified mining organisations.
Today, 250 businesses in 35 countries work with Fairmined to bring Fairmined certified gold to the market.
Fairmined gold can be made into all types of jewellery and any jewellery company can become a licensee.
The Fairmined Standard
The Fairmined standard is a long list of requirements that Fairmined certified mining organisations must meet and this is split into 4 categories.
Environmental Standards
Environmental protections form a key part of the standards set by ARM for Fairmined and for consumers wishing to go further, a separate certification label, Fairmined Eco Gold, has been created with even more stringent controls on the mining process.
To meet the environmental criteria, mines must be small in scale with low environmental impact, protect water supplies, and safely handle and reduce or eliminate completely chemicals.
To meet the Fairmined Eco Gold standard, no chemicals can be used to the extraction of gold.
Social Development
Social development measures include making sure the mine has no links to conflict situations, there is no child labour, gender equality is practised, and well being is promoted within the community.
Work Conditions
This merely states that health and safety conditions at mines are well maintained, workers have a right to organise, and the mine provides stable jobs for the miners.
Fairmined Organizational Development
As an organization, Fairmined helps to maintain and implement standards that help to empower these small mining communities. Helping miners to legalise their claims, securing them a guaranteed minimum price, as well as an additional market premium, build better trade relationships, and strengthen and empower their organisation.
Fairmined gold in the UK
In the UK today there are 40 Fairmined gold licensees. To find a Fairmined licensee close to you, you can use the interactive map at fairmined.org/virtual-map
Audit process
Fairmined supply chain actors
The types of businesses that are involved in the Fairmined gold supply chain are split into three categories:
Miners - Organisations that mine the gold; only small scale artisanal mining operations are eligible for certification.
Fairmined Supplier - Business such as refiners, traders manufacturers, and casters who transform the raw material into a product that can be manufactured into a useable product.
Fairmined Licensee - A business, typically a jewellery company, who trade in Fairmined gold and sell it to customers.
Expanding Fairmined Gold
As well as working with mining organisations who are already certified by Fairmined, Fairmined help to identify small scale artisanal mining organisations and work with them to implement the standard required to become certified.
The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)
ARM are a grassroots organisation who work for the sustainable development of small scale mining in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, founded in 2004.
ARM have identified standards and certification as one of the four key strategic areas in their theory of change. Since 2002 they have been involved in creating standards and good practices for the small mining sector.
