The Jewelry Industry and Mercury Pollution
Gold is a valuable commodity found on every continent and in over 80 countries. Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a critical livelihood supporting over 15 million miners. The sector with the highest demand for gold is the jewelry sector. Around 50% of all gold is used by the jewelry industry and 20% of this gold comes from the ASGM community. There is a growing awareness from the jewelry industry in the valuable role they can play in supporting miners in their efforts to move away from the use of mercury.
Read Gold’s Deadly Truth: Much Is Mined With Mercury: Ten years after an international treaty to ban mercury, the toxic metal continues to poison. The reason might have to do with your wedding ring in the New York Times to learn more.
Pure Earth partners with the jewelry industry to encourage the use and purchase of mercury-free gold. Scroll down to learn more about our initiatives and partnerships.
Pure Earth Pure Gold Jewelry Collection and Auction
Since 2017, Pure Earth has collaborated with jewelry designers and others in the industry to raise awareness about the global impact of mercury pollution from gold mining.
A centerpiece of this effort is the annual Pure Earth Pure Gold jewelry collection and auction, which features beautiful, unique pieces of Fairmined gold jewelry crafted by designers who are passionate about using responsibly-sourced materials and supporting Pure Earth’s work.
Funds raised from the auction of the annual collection support Pure Earth’s pollution cleanup efforts around the world, including work directly with artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities to help them mine without mercury and restore land stripped by mining in the Amazon rainforest.
Partnership Case Study: Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth is a jewelry company with a mission to cultivate a more transparent, sustainable, compassionate, and inclusive jewelry industry. Pure Earth was awarded a three-year grant to work with a female-led artisanal mining concession located in Madre de Dios, Peru, enabling them to become the first Ecological Fairmined certified mining concession in this region.
“As a leader of ethical practices and a proud Fairmined certified brand, we hope to pave the way for industry transformation through Pure Earth’s Green Mining project and invite others to do the same.” – Beth Gerstein, Co-Founder and CEO of Brilliant Earth
Brilliant Earth states in their 2021 Sustainability Report (pg 33) that the company increased Fairmined gold purchases by 27%, from approximately 470 grams to 600 grams, through their work with Pure Earth and the Alliance for Responsible Mining.
The first mining community in the Peruvian Amazon became Fairmined Certified as part of this project in 2023.
Partnership Case Study: Iris Van der Veken of the Watch and Jewelry
Initiative 2030
Iris Van der Veken, secretary general of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030, was recognized with the Impact Award at the 2023 Pure Earth Benefit.
This award is given annually to individuals whose contributions have resulted in extraordinary impact on global issues protecting people and the planet. Iris was honored for her exceptional leadership in the jewelry industry, long-term commitment to sustainability, the successful partnerships she has developed on the ground, and her strong activism on human rights and gender.
Pure Earth Provides Expertise on Mercury Pollution from ASGM at Jewelry Industry Events and Webinars and in Industry Publications
Pure Earth experts have been featured speakers at jewelry industry events including JCK Las Vegas, The Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference, Arts and Initiatives Gold Conference and NYC Jewelry Week. We have been featured in webinars and articles for the Responsible Jewelry Council, Ethical Metalsmiths, National Jeweler, Vogue and more.
Why Partner with Pure Earth?
Let us help you achieve your social responsibility goals. Partnering with Pure Earth is one way to show your employees, consumers and investors that your company cares about having a meaningful impact on people and the planet.
Ways to Be Involved
Pure Gold Jewelry Collection and Auction
