Responsible precious metals: recycling, traceability, and conflict minerals
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.
§Recycled metal — less need for new mining
En stor del af det guld og sølv, der bruges i danske værksteder i dag, er genanvendt. Gammelt guld og sølv fra kasserede smykker, produktionsspild og elektronik kan smeltes om og bruges igen med samme kvalitet som nyt, mineudvundet metal. Genanvendelse reducerer behovet for ny minedrift og de miljømæssige belastninger, den fører med sig, og flere danske smykkevirksomheder arbejder i dag med guld, der udelukkende stammer fra genanvendte kilder.
§Certification and traceability
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.
§The EU's rules on conflict minerals
Siden 2017 har EU haft en forordning, (EU) 2017/821, der fastlægger due diligence-forpligtelser for EU-importører af tin, tantal, wolfram og guld — samlet kaldet 3TG — når de importeres fra konfliktramte områder og højrisikoområder. Forordningen bygger på OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas og skal være med til at bryde forbindelsen mellem konflikt og ulovlig udvinding af mineraler. Reglerne er implementeret i dansk lovgivning gennem lov om ædle metaller og konfliktmineraler.
| 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. |
§What it means for you as a professional
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.
- 01Reusing gold and silver reduces the need for new mining.
- 02RJC and similar certifications set requirements for the entire supply chain.
- 03EU Regulation 2017/821 regulates the import of 3TG from conflict-affected areas.
- 04Smelters are often the last place where the metal's origin can be traced.
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.