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Where does the gold come from — and how does the industry ensure it is mined responsibly?
A piece of jewellery rarely tells the story of where its metal originally came from. Gold and silver are extracted from mines around the world and in some cases under conditions that burden both people and environment. As a goldsmith and silversmith you work at one end of a long chain and an ever-growing part of the trade is about being able to vouch for where the material comes from.
A large proportion of the gold and silver used in Danish workshops today is recycled. Old gold and silver from discarded jewellery, production waste and electronics can be melted down and reused with the same quality as new, mine-extracted metal. Recycling reduces the need for new mining and the environmental burdens it brings, and several Danish jewellery companies today work with gold that comes exclusively from recycled sources.
To document responsible origin, parts of the industry use certification schemes such as Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) which set requirements for companies throughout the supply chain — from mines to smeltery to jewellery shop. Traceability is about being able to follow the metal's path through the chain so it is possible to document that it does not come from conflict-affected or unregulated mining.
Since 2017, the EU has had a regulation, (EU) 2017/821, which establishes due diligence obligations for EU importers of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold — collectively called 3TG — when they are imported from conflict-affected areas and high-risk areas. The regulation is based on the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and is intended to help break the link between conflict and illegal mining of minerals. The rules are implemented in Danish legislation through the law on precious metals and conflict minerals.
| Concept | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Recycled gold/silver | Remelted metal from old jewelry, scrap or electronics |
| RJC certification | Voluntary standard for responsible practice throughout the supply chain |
| 3TG | Tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold — the minerals that EU regulations cover |
| EU 2017/821 | Due diligence requirements for EU importers of 3TG from high-risk areas. |
You don't need to know all the law by heart, but it is worth knowing that the question of where the precious metal comes from is no longer just a question for the large smelters and wholesalers. Customers increasingly ask about origin and sustainability and a workshop that can answer credibly stands stronger. Choosing recycled or certified metal is therefore both an ethical and a business choice.
Responsible precious metals are not about a single measure but about a chain of decisions – from mines or recycling through smelters and certification to the finished jewelry on your workbench. The more you know about that chain, the better you can advise your customers and stand by your own work.