Jewelry - an investment, a gift, a pleasure. However, if we do not pay attention to the origin of our jewelry, it can also be an ethical and environmental disaster. Many precious metal or diamond mines have a considerable negative impact on the environment and on the lives of the people who work in these mines or who live nearby.
FairTrade jewelry offers a solution to this problem, an alternative that can be both beautiful and have a positive social and environmental impact, by raising industry standards.
What is a piece of jewelry from the FaireTrade label?
FairTrade jewelry is made from materials that have been certified by the "FairTrade" label for having respected fair trade standards, established by the certification body during the extraction and manufacturing process.
The FairTrade label standards encompass the three pillars of sustainability:
- The environment
- Social
- Economy
In general, the certification of fair trade jewelry guarantees that suppliers receive fair prices for their products, that workers receive sufficient wages, that the sustainability of the local region is not compromised in the production or sourcing of materials, etc.
As a system, the sale of fair trade jewelry strives to eliminate the injustices of the system towards the poor or disadvantaged people.
The problems of the mining industry
The mining industry faces three major problems: environmental, social, and economic issues.
Environmental issues
Gold extraction is one of the most harmful industries in the world, both environmentally and socially.
The extraction process releases many dangerous chemicals, which are frequently dumped into the environment by unfair producers. These chemicals include arsenic, lead, mercury, cyanide, etc.
In addition, in the precious metal extraction process, a lot of waste is created by the surrounding rocks. In fact, a single gold ring can generate up to 20 tons of waste (solid waste). The mining process in general endangers natural areas, as miners do not hesitate to destroy a protected area for profit.
Social problems
The negative social impacts of gold and silver mining are numerous. Often, indigenous communities are evicted from the lands where they have lived for generations, since they do not legally own the area. Workers in the mines are also frequently mistreated and forced to work in inhumane conditions.
Working conditions are often very dangerous: workers are exposed to extreme temperature conditions, to tunnels whose structure is not reliable, to fires, etc. Furthermore, if the working conditions and wages of men working in the mines are appalling, women are also threatened by this industry.
In local areas, these "opportunities" for men's work often reduce opportunities for women, who can also become increasingly victims of violence due to social changes in their communities (women).
Economic issues
From an economic point of view, mining methods give a short-term boost to local economies, but are more destructive than beneficial in the long term, because most of the countries where mining takes place do not have legislation requiring mining companies to account for the environmental and social damage they cause.
Solutions to buy jewelry from the FairTrade label?
At April Please, all our partner workshops are based in France and this will never change. Our products have received the "Responsible Jewelry Council" label. Its mission and role is to certify the good practices of companies that contribute to the gold supply chain, from the mine to distribution.
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FairTrade jewelry contributes to solving many of these problems, because it incorporates social, environmental, and economic standards. To be considered fair trade jewelry, metals from fair trade certified mines must meet strict standards regarding working conditions, safety and health, chemical treatment, women's rights, child labor, and environmental protection, especially water sources and forests. Miners also receive a mandatory minimum price for the product, in order to prevent obtaining lower prices through illegal practices.
FairTrade certified gold and silver
Gold and silver are part of the most popular fair trade jewelry. More than 500 jewelers worldwide now use gold bearing the fair trade label.
When you buy gold, it is highly recommended to always check the jeweler's references to make sure you are buying certified fair trade gold. By doing so, you ensure that you are supporting the improvement of environmental, social, and economic standards in the mines.
Although fair trade silver is not talked about as often as fair trade gold and the certification itself was launched later for silver, most of the operating standards for both metals are similar, which is why it is also important to choose fair trade silver jewelry when you buy silver jewelry.
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