If we think at all about where our gold comes from, we probably picture a bearded prospector with a shovel and a mule. In reality, most of our gold comes from vast open pit mines in remote locations operated by large, multinational corporations. These mines consume excessive amounts of water and energy, create mountains of waste rock and fill acres of ponds with toxic chemicals. They consume wilderness areas, threaten economies and indigenous communities, and can cause perpetual pollution.

Photo: National Park Service

A significant amount of gold is supplied by artisanal and small scale mining, which employs an estimated twelve million people around the world. These operations often bring about environmental degradation, involve child labor and lead to the exploitation and further impoverishment of workers and communities.

An artisanal mining area near Siguiri in Guinea. photo: Beatrice Labonne

The earth’s gold is found in faraway places, which has allowed us to distance ourselves from the realities of its extraction. We are intimate with gold, but overlook the fact that the jewelry we make begins with, and at, the source of our materials. Because eighty percent of the gold that is produced each year is used to make jewelry, we must take notice and share responsibility. Nobody wants jewelry that is tarnished.

We are focusing our attention on gold because of its high visibility and economic value. However, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, zinc and lead are also part of the story. Adverse environmental and human rights impacts of mining often occur when other metals are mined. 

We care about the traditions, integrity and future of metal arts. Ethical Metalsmiths has been created for people who want materials they use to be consistent with their values. We are seeking sources for precious metals that have been responsibly mined and can be independently certified. We invite our colleagues in the metals community; artists, metalsmiths, goldsmiths, jewelers, educators and students, galleries and collectors, retailers and suppliers to become advocates for responsibly sourced materials and use their combined purchasing power to reward ethical practices.

Key traits make metalsmiths particularly effective advocates for market-based reform. As consumers and purveyors of the materials at the heart of the matter, they are industry insiders with an economic stake in the outcome. Independence and small scale production allow metalsmiths to shift their purchasing habits very quickly, which leads to efficient change. Educators control large purchasing budgets for their schools, and have an unparalleled opportunity to influence the next generation of metalsmiths. As artists, metalsmiths speak to the public in engaging ways and they can directly influence trends. The historical experience of “activist” artisans shows that we can play a disproportionate role in shaping public opinion. Metalsmiths traditionally adopt high ethical and technical standards and are well-respected as a result.

We commend EARTHWORKS for protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of mining , digging and drilling, and Oxfam America for seeking lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger and social justice. We applaud the success of their jointly sponsored campaign, No Dirty Gold, which has gathered the support of more than 50,000 consumers in demanding that the global mining industry provide retailers and consumers an alternative to dirty gold.