(ADDISON, Tex.) – Precious metals wholesale trading firm Dillon Gage has partnered with the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), an international non-profit organization recognized as a leader of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining, as part of the Fairmined. Through this partnership, Dillon Gage is now an authorized supplier of Fairmined gold and is one of only a handful of U.S. authorized refineries.
“Fairmined is the world’s leading assurance label that certifies gold from small-scale mining organizations adheres to responsible and ethical sourcing practices,” said Terry Hanlon, president at Dillon Gage. “Fairmined guarantees its artisanal and small-scale miners have met their responsible practices requirements. We hope our investment into Fairmined gold tells the industry and world that we are committed to supporting miners who follow environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.”
The Fairmined Standard is a leader in its ability to deliver a positive impact to the miners and their communities and is a valued tool to transform artisanal and small-scale mining into an active force for good. The Fairmined Standard for gold ensures:
- Miners are paid a fair wage, regardless of gender
- No child labor was used
- Safe and reduced handling of chemicals or chemical-free extraction
- Protection of water supplies
- Reforestation
- A healthy and safe workplace for miners
- Gender equality
- No link to conflict situations
- All Fairmined stamped gold is 100% traceable
- Legal mining operation
These practices contribute to fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Dillon Gage is one of only six suppliers of Fairmined gold in North America, Hanlon said, and is one of the few refineries certified to refine Fairmined gold in the United States. Dillon Gage received its first shipment of Fairmined gold in February and refined it into casting grain, purified samples of precious metal that come in small granules, available to jewelry designers and makers. Dillon Gage’s Fairmined gold will be sold in increments from one ounce up to one kilo. Fairmined customers will all receive a certificate of authenticity.
Socially conscious consumers can also be a part of the change by purchasing products that positively impact the lives of these mining communities. This added benefit only comes from the partnership with ARM as an authorized Fairmined supplier.
“People want to play a role in ethically and responsibly-sourced gold. However, until Fairmined, it has been very difficult to prove that the gold hasn’t been recycled, mixed with other gold from questionable sources,” Hanlon said. “This is a huge opportunity for small- and medium-sized jewelers, in particular, to have access to Fairmined gold for their custom jewelry manufacturing.”
Jewelers working with Fairmined product can be confident that their gold was extracted under high-standard practices by small-scale mining organizations. In this way, the Fairmined label assures that certified gold was responsibly mined, respecting human rights and the environment.
“More than 50% of the world’s gold mines are operated unethically. The main source of mercury pollution in the world is poor mining activity. When we remove these practices from the artisanal communities, even though their impact is small, it still helps,” said Jonathan Gonzalez, ARM market development manager. “The detrimental issues of the mining industry is the use of mercury, child labor and carbon dioxide emissions. It isn’t easy to measure carbon dioxide emissions, but everyone wants to be carbon neutral. But it is hard for these mining communities when they just want to bring food to their tables. Fairmined Standards help them do that while operating in a fashion that addresses these social and environmental issues.”
“Fairmined is an opportunity for companies to strengthen their sustainability commitment while having a positive impact on small-scale mining communities,” Gonzalez added.
You can find more information on Dillon Gage’s commitment to Fairmined gold on their website, or call 800-375-4653.
