[Jewelry making - Article 00393] - Re: [Orchid] Responsible Gold

[Miche]

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    Hi folks - I hope I'm not being too long winded here. Feel free to
    stop or delete at any time. 

    In the big picture I think it makes sense for any individual to
    "start where you are". If one aspect calls to you, moves you to make
    a change then that's a good beginning. It would paralyze any of us to
    think that the only valid way to make change is to address everything
    at once. We don't even know what "everything" is. 

    On the specific topic of responsible gold - I have been buying gold
    an platinum from a small company in Columbia Oro Verde/ Green Gold
    Corporation. 

    http://www.greengold-oroverde.org 

    The gold and platinum are certified sustainably mined and fairly
    traded by an independent organization.(The IIAP) Green Gold
    purchases from artisanal miners in the Choco region of Columbia.
    These communities of miners have agreed to a stringent list of
    "green" practices including replanting of the areas they mine, no use
    of mercury or other dangerous substances. In return, they gain land
    that is livable, water that is potable, ponds that can support food
    fish, etc. and they are guaranteed a return on their gold of 10% over
    spot. I actually feel good about every ounce I buy knowing that my
    money is going to families and community sustainably harvesting their
    local resources. Okay, then I alloy it with your everyday copper,
    silver, etc. mined in the usual non-eco-friendly ways. Still - I
    believe, there is great value in supporting this type of system. The
    Association for Responsible Mining (ARM is made up of individuals
    who throughout the world who are working together to help foster more
    of this, to get corporations and governments to move to more
    sustainable and fair trade practices. 

    I've heard that the major percentage of gold in circulation is
    actually recycled - if everyone on Orchid who cared about "dirty
    gold" asked their suppliers to furnish 100% recycled gold (keeping
    separate any newly mined material) I'm sure it could be, in fact
    eventually would be done. Probably for a premium but what would it
    really require of a company as large as Hoover and Strong, Hauser and
    Miller or Rio Grande to run all the scrap they receive separately
    then mill as usual to provide 100% recycled content (at least the
    main metal if not the alloys). I think it is exceedingly rare that
    companies make this kind of move on their own initiative. I believe
    this sort of change comes from the consumer side - people asking,
    saying, requesting, demanding alternatives, offering some proof that
    there is a market worthy of the effort. How many jewelers would it
    take to get one supplier to take notice? How many collective ounces
    would need to be purchased over the course of a year? For myself I can
    tell you that my business has nearly doubled in one year and I
    believe it is entirely due to the change to green gold and platinum
    and recycled silver. I believe the customers for this are out there
    in great and growing numbers. There are very few of us right now
    offering anything to meet that desire partly, I think, because the
    materials are not easy to come by. I think this could be changed. 

    Remember when there was no such thing as post-consumer recycled
    paper? When 10% recycled paper content was a big deal? Change often
    starts small. Remember when only "mother earth granola types" bought
    organic produce? And now major supermarkets and places like Costco
    carry some ( no doubt a somewhat watered down version of "organic" but
    still-progress). 

    in support of small changes, 
    Miche 

http://www.sumiche.com
custom fine jewelry using fair trade/certified green gold and platinum
http://www.eco-gold.net

 
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