The jewellery industry is increasingly looking at the origins of precious metals and gemstones and the social and environmental issues connected to their extraction. For me, understanding where my materials come from is an important part of creating jewellery.

When choosing gold, I look for specific qualities in the mining and supply chain behind it, including working conditions, the treatment of miners and mining communities, and the environmental practices covered by the relevant standards.

This is why I choose Fairmined gold.

My commitment to Fairmined is not based solely on reading a standard or looking at a certification mark. I have travelled to Fairmined-certified mining communities in Peru and Colombia and seen aspects of these practices first-hand.

At Oro Puno in Peru, I saw how water used in the mining process is cleaned and reused, and how areas affected by mining are restored by replacing the earth and replanting the land, creating green areas where mining has taken place. I also met miners and saw the pride they take in improving their working environment and caring for the land around them.

These experiences have given me a very personal understanding of what the Fairmined Standard means in practice.

The Fairmined Standard provides the independently verified framework behind my choice, with requirements covering responsible mining, environmental protection, labour conditions, traceability and social and economic development. Fairmined Ecological Gold also has additional requirements concerning the rehabilitation of native ecosystems and minimising ecological disturbance.

For me, choosing Fairmined gold is therefore both a certified sourcing decision and a personal ethical choice: I know where my gold comes from, I have met some of the people who mine it, and I have seen some of the practices behind the certification with my own eyes.

Fairmined gold and silver can cost more than conventional precious metals because the certification involves specific requirements for mining organisations and supply-chain participants, together with premiums paid to certified mining organisations to support development.

I also explore other sourcing relationships where provenance and the circumstances behind a gemstone are important to my decision-making. For example, like Moyo Gemstones and Diamonds for Peace, have given me opportunities to learn more about the people and communities connected to the materials and issues within the jewellery supply chain.