Ethical jewellery goes for gold

Wed, 23 Jan 2008

Growing numbers of Britons are buying ethical gold jewellery, say experts.

Greg Valerio, owner of ethical jewellery shop Cred, in Chichester, says he has had a significant number of orders from around the world for gold products and gemstones that have originated in places where exploitation has not taken place.

"Customers don't realise that one wedding ring weighs 10 grams and causes three tonnes of toxic waste," says Valerio, a human rights and anti-poverty campaigner . There is a fast growing global market for gold and platinum jewellery which will ease consumers’ consciences and protect miners from danger and exploitation.

Valerio’s jewellery shop has formed a partnership with miners in an underdeveloped region in northeast Colombia and by working with the Fairtrade Foundation, they are hoping to apply Fairtrade’s successful labelling to gold. The Fairtrade Foundation helps farmers and workers from poor countries to develop their communities through fairer terms of trade.

"If we get a positive board decision to proceed with Fairtrade labelled gold, then depending on the outcome of the pilot studies to date, it would be likely that the first certified gold will be available during 2009," said Fairtrade Foundation policy and producer relations officer Chris Davis.
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