RJC Signs Deal with Artisanal Gold Miners

RAPAPORT… The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has entered into a
collaboration that, it claimed, will significantly increase the volume of
artisanal-mined gold in the market.

The organization signed a memorandum of understanding with the
Swiss Better Gold Association, the Better Gold Initiative for ASM (artisanal
small-scale miners), and the Max Havelaar Foundation (Switzerland) for
Fairtrade.

Under the agreement, the four trade bodies will support the
production of five tonnes of responsibly sourced gold by artisanal small-scale
miners in Peru, Bolivia and Colombia, which will be introduced into the market
by 2020.

“Through this collaboration, we will work closely with these
organizations to promote sustainability and ethical business practices in the
jewelry supply chain,” Andrew Bone, executive director of the RJC, said last
week. “Together we can leverage each other’s knowledge and expertise regarding
the challenges and issues the industry faces to instill a responsible supply
chain and promote consumer confidence in the watch and fine-jewelry industry.”

Image: Gold jewelry.