Campaign Reveals Dark Side of Gold Jewelry
CBS 5, CA
(CBS 5) Martin and Deborah Stuchbury are on the hunt for gold.
“I bought her a brooch and a watch,†Martin said.
What they don’t know is that behind their new shiny gold jewelry may be dirty business.
“I would hope that the gold that I’ve bought is safe,†Deborah said.
Chances are, it’s not. Gold mining has been linked to environmental and human rights violations – practices that can displace communities, contaminate drinking water and harm workers.
“I’ve never even thought about that with gold before,†one shopper said. “I think that’s a catastrophe really,†another added.
The production of a single gold ring can produce as much as 20 tons of waste – something some jewelry retailers say needs to stop.
19 jewelry retailers have signed on to the “No Dirty Gold” campaign. It’s an international organization that supports cleaner gold mining tactics.
Tiffany & Co. was one of the first to sign on.
“Responsible mining simply makes good business sense. It makes good business sense because it’s something that we know matters to our customers,†said Tiffany & Co. CEO Mike Kowalksi.
There is currently no standard for gold mining. Retailers themselves don’t know the origins of the jewelry they’re selling. So what can you do?
“I think what a consumer should do, can do, is ask if that jeweler is participating in the No Dirty Gold initiatives,†Kowalski said.
A standard for clean gold is still years away but the jewelry industry Is optimistic that it can clean up its act.
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