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Platinum, Gold and Silver
We source gold from the EcoAndina Foundation in the north-west of Argentina. Small-scale mining communities working under carefully regulated conditions produce precious metals that are both environmentally friendly and socially beneficial. These are extracted without mercury or cyanide; the producers have the right to bargain collectively; child labour is strictly prohibited; and prices are set on a fairtrade basis.
We also source some gold from Oro Verde (’Green Gold’) in Colombia, which is currently part of a pilot project to establish the world’s first Fair Trade Foundation certified fair trade gold. Platinum has sometimes also been available from this source. Much of the platinum we use is from a refinery in the US, and is 100% post-consumer recycled.
To find out more about the ethical issues connected with precious metals, read our frequently asked questions.