Fairmined - An in-depth exploration

Every conversation about ethical jewellery has to begin at the source; the extraction of the metals. This holds particularly true for precious metals like gold and silver, where corporate and conventional mining practices are so often marred by social and environmental destruction. Enter Fairmined – a certification that promises a brighter, more sustainable future for miners, ecosystems and consumers alike. So, what is Fairmined gold and silver and why are we so passionate about them as the ethical choice for conscious jewellery.

Miners at Iquira, Colombia

Social Impact

At the heart of Fairmined lies a dedication to improving the lives of artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in developing countries. By 2013, it was estimated that globally, between 100 and 150 million people relied on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) for their livelihoods [1]. However, miners often work under harsh conditions with limited access to clean water, healthcare, education, and fair wages. Artisanal mining is frequently associated with illegality, violence, smuggling, and environmental destruction. Miners frequently come into contact with hazardous chemicals like mercury, which not only jeopardize their and their community’s health but also bioaccumulate, having far reaching deadly consequences for ecosystems and food chains.

The Fairmined Standard seeks to address these challenges by reforming the often opaque and exploitative conventional gold trade. It promotes fairer practices that improve the social, economic, and environmental conditions of miners and their communities

In contrast to commercial mines, ASM (artisanal small-scale mines) are often owner operated and, to varying degrees, rely on rudimentary mining technologies. Whilst ASMs produce only 20% of the global gold supply, they employ 80% of the global workforce involved in gold extraction (the remaining 20% are employed in large scale, commercial gold mining)[2]. By focusing on ASMs, Fairmined certification has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the greatest number of people involved in, or affected by, gold mining.

The Oro Puno mining team, Peru

In order to become Fairmined certified an ASM must comply with the strictest legal, organizational, labour, technical, social and environmental requirements as laid out by the Alliance for Responsible Mining as well as the individual country’s own laws.

Once certified, Fairmined mining organisations receive a fair price (established by market rates) for their metals as well as an additional Fairmined Premium. This premium, $4 for every gram of Fairmined gold (extracted with responsible chemical management) and $6/gram in the case of  Fairmined ECO gold (extracted without the use of chemicals), is reinvested into sustainable mining practices as well as used  to improve the lives of miners, their families and surrounding communities. Thus, the Fairmined Premium not only rewards responsible mining practices but also provides crucial funds for mining organisations to realize their sustainable development goals [3]

For those interested, the Fairmined 2022 Premium Report offers valuable insights into how specific Fairmined mines utilised their premiums, which included investments in safety equipment, development of local schools and clinics and road building.

The Fairmined standard actively promotes gender equality and prohibits child labor. To work underground in a Fairmined certified mine, miners must be at least 18 years old, a stark contrast to many mining operations where children as young as nine are witnessed underground and even younger children are involved in surface-level ore processing [4].

Both independent auditors and The Alliance for Responsible Mining’s own team conduct annual visits to the mines to verify compliance with the Fairmined standard and assess ongoing improvements. Fairmined invests time and resources into sharing knowledge and providing training, both directly and through partner organisations, to candidates of Fairmined certification, covering a vast array of issues related to health and safety [5]. This grassroots approach fosters positive, long-term change to the mining environment and safeguards workers. 

A miner at Iquira

Environmental Stewardship

The mining of precious metals worldwide exacts a significant ecological toll. Gold mining, in particular, can have devastating consequences, as evidenced by incidents like the Baia Mare (Romania) mine's tailings dam burst, which caused cyanide and heavy-metal sludge spills, contaminating river systems for 40 kilometeres [6]. 

In response to this tainted history, Fairmined certification mandates that its mining partners leave a positive environmental legacy by adhering to environmental laws, contributing to environmental protection through restoration and minimising the ecological footprint of mining.

Certification operates on a two tier system for environmental protections; Fairmined Gold and Fairmined ECO gold. The former requires the responsible use of chemicals, ensuring that minimal amounts are used and that there is no runoff into waterways or leaching into soils. Fairmined ECO requires the complete elimination of toxic chemicals from the mining process.