links and information on ethical jewellery
including fairtrade gold
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ute decker is an artist-jeweller and leading proponent of ethical jewellery working in fairtrade gold, recycled silver and bio-resin.
she regularly writes and speaks on ethical jewellery.
below you find extensive information and links on ethical jewellery.
for much more regular information on issues relating to conflict minerals and ethical jewellery -
visit ute decker
on facebook.
content
ethical jewellery in the media >
fairtrade gold
in-depth information >
suppliers of ethical metals
and traceable stones >
bench tips >
industry Initiatives / NGOs >
ethical jewellery
in the media
The Goldsmith magazine has kindly invited
Ute Decker to report on two of the
great debates on ethical jewellery at ijl,
published in the oct 2010 issue.
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nov 2009
The Goldsmith Magazine has kindly invited Ute Decker to write an editorial on ethical jewellery with an overview on the current debate and developments, a personal look at striving to work ethically as a studio jeweller followed by ten suggestions for future projects.
read editorial >
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With record gold prices stimulating demand, Jenny Cuffe reports from the Democratic Republic of Congo on the scale of illegal mining and asks if the industry does enough to ensure that gold supplies aren't being used to fund conflict.
listen to programme >
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Five million people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo in a war fueled primarily from gold mined in the country by warlords and smuggled out to be sold on the open market. Scott Pelley reports.
view programme >
read some interesting comments on this programme from fairjewelry.org >
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fairtrade gold
in-depth background information
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What's more valuable than gold? Meet some of the miners and communities behind the first Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.
vido clips on the Fairtrade Foundation website
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Gold mining goes hand in hand with war, environmental degradation and poor health. As the world's first hallmark for Fairtrade gold is launched in the UK, Kate Carter reports on a industry that is crying out for an ethical overhaul
Kate Carter, guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 February 2011 |
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dedicated Fairtrade gold micro-site of the Fairtrade Foundation
offers facts and figures |
official website of the Association for Responsible Mining, ARM
who in partnership with the Fairtrade Foundation have developed the standard for Fairtrade gold
offers facts and figures including press releases
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podcast of ILJ seminar, September 2010
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highly informative presentation, contains many facts & figures, including volume, pricing, projections and much more.
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Currently, there is already a waiting list.
Jewellers interested in working with Fairtrade gold can visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gold/businesses/register-your-interest.html to find out more.
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| 17 March 2010
Fairtrade Labeling Organisations International (FLO) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) launches the first ever third party independent certification for gold, opening up market opportunities for millions of impoverished artisanal small-scale miners and their families.
The new Fairtrade and Fairmined gold standards will mean that interested licensees can apply for certification of gold products such as jewellery, commemorative coins, ingots, medals, trophies and religious artefacts.
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e.g. Metal mining accounts for up to 10% of world energy consumption, but employs only .09% of the global workforce.
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Report by the No Dirty Gold NGO
The purpose of this report is to show you how much metal there is in your life from the gold in your jewelry
to the aluminum in your automobile and to explain how it was produced. If you live in the United States,
your annual consumption of newly-mined minerals (as opposed to those produced from recycling) comes to
21 metric tons*—just over 57 kilos a day. This report will show you what lies behind that stupendous lode of
copper and tantalum, gold and platinum.We’ll explain how the mining of these and other metals damages
landscapes, pollutes water, and poisons people.We’ll show you why modern, industrial mining is one of the
world’s most destructive industries. And finally, we’ll show you what we as consumers and concerned citizens
can do to clean it up.
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Marc Choyt’s website comments on current developments and lists trade suppliers and resources including diamonds, fair trade gems, precious metals and bench practices.
In addition there are articles on manufacturing standards and a ‘must read’ list for anybody interested in ‘fair trade’ jewellery.
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A non-profit organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the destructive impacts of mineral development by working with communities and grassroots groups to reform government policies, improve corporate practices, influence investment decisions and encourage responsible materials sourcing and consumption.
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Matilda Lee, The Ecologist
1st March, 2009
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Bario-Neal started this blog after so much frustration in their own research, trying to access information from suppliers, processors, and other jewellers about their materials and methods. Bario-Neal hopes that their research will be useful to other designers and help to create a more transparent jewellery manufacturing industry.
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Eco Jeweller looks at the issues behind all that glitters.
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Detailed reports on Congo and conflict minerals are contained in the submission by the Enough and Global Witness submisions for the consulation on the Dodd-Frank Act. .
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for regular information on issues relating to conflict minerals and jewellery -
visit ute decker
on facebook. |
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suppliers of ethical metals and traceable stones
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| CRED Sources offers fair-trade & fairtrade gold , traceable diamonds, and traceable gems to the jewellery trade.
Jewellery by ute decker is made with recycled silver from Cred and now from Capella.
Capella Refinery for sheet, wire and grain in recycled silver in the UK
Cred sources no longer offers recycled silver, Capella is now the direct supplier.
Duncan Marshall - dunk@capellaltd.co.uk |
This USA company offers, 100% recycled precious metals including gold, platinum, palladium, sterling silver, fine silver and copper, conflict-free diamonds and fair trade gemstones, with over 30,000 eco-friendly products to choose from, including findings and chain.
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Traceable Gemstones & Diamonds
Gemstones are even more problematic than diamonds. An estimated 75% of coloured gems come from suspect sources, involving either poor working conditions or worse being the major source of funding for civil wars in West Africa, including Congo. There are currently a few reputable suppliers who strive to closely track stones from mine to market aiming to support environmental protection, fair labour practices and a tight chain of custody to ensure legality, traceability and transparency in the supply chain.
www.credsources.com
www.fairtrade-gemstone.com - offering Columbia Gemhouse stones in the UK -
www.columbiagemhouse.com
www.wmfinegems.com
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This list compiled by Marc Choyt comprises suppliers of fair traded gems and diamonds as well as fair traded and sustainable or recycled gold and silver.
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Canonbury Arts shop in London sells Bio resin and Jesomite used by various jewellers as a safer alternative to toxic resins. |
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Currently, there is already a waiting list.
Jewellers interested in working with Fairtrade gold can visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gold/businesses/register-your-interest.html to find out more.
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Printing
Tips on eco-friendly print design and a list of printers around the UK
www.threetreesdontmakeaforest.org
www.lovelyasatree.com
www.solopress.com - online ordering facility & quick turnaround (go for eco-options)
http://www.greenhousegraphics.co.uk - for sustainable large format display systems such as printed banner stands and pop up stands. |
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bench tips |
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Fact sheet by Ute Decker with information on eco-friendly printers, renewable energy supplier, suppliers of stones, metals and recycled packaging and more. |
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Fact sheet by Ute Decker with information on suppliers, preparation, application and disposal.
Chemicals used in jewellery making can be extremely toxic and a hassle to dispose of
safely. One of the simplest things you can do to lessen the negative health and
environmental impact is to reduce chemical use in the workshop and choose less toxic
alternatives for those that can't be avoided.
The most commonly used studio chemical is pickle and many jewellers have already
made the change back to traditional pickles such as citric acid or a vinegar and salt
solution as non-toxic alternatives with excellent results.
published in the Goldsmith Magazine, April 2010 |
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Jeffrey Herman has published Safer Alternatives including sustainable products / less-toxic chemicals to use in the jewellery workshop on the Society of American Silversmiths website. |
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| Article in the Jewelry Artist Magazine covers a saver alternative for pickle and patinas. |
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published in the Art Jewelry Magazine
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Green Jewelry Newsletter
Christine Dhein is the founder "Green Jewelry News," a monthly electronic newsletter, with “green” news and events along with eco-friendly studio practices and tips.
To subscribe, send an email to with “Green Jewelry News Subscribe” in the subject.
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Various articles including in-depth info and tips on making your jewelry and studio more eco-friendly.
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