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Gold has been cherished for its beauty and durability for centuries. It’s no surprise that this valuable metal finds its way into our everyday lives, economies and even cultural values. However, like many precious resources, the beautiful gold we admire goes through a complex journey until it reaches us. Getting our hands on that beauty can actually come with downsides for the environment and local communities. The gold mining process leaves a substantial footprint on the environment and affects the livelihoods of nearby communities. From potential pollution to social disruptions, the effects of mining practices can be far-reaching. At Eternate, we care deeply about our impact on people and the planet alike. Therefore, we source our gold responsibly and use only recycled gold in all our pieces. That’s our way of saying no to “dirty gold.”
Gold mining without proper regulations or oversight creates what is called dirty gold. It typically comes from small, illegal mining operations that don't take any safety or environmental precautions. Unfortunately, these unregulated mines can have a much more negative impact on the miners, nearby communities and the environment compared to ethical gold mining with proper controls and regulations. By understanding these issues, we can make informed choices and support more responsible practices in the industry.
Did you know that producing gold for only one wedding ring alone generates about 20 tons of waste?1 These pollutants harm wildlife and ecosystems and even mix in drinking water supplies. If not regulated and controlled, the mining process impacts the environment negatively by affecting the land and water around mines. This can disrupt local ecosystems and cause many problems including deforestation and pollution.
Mining operations have a long history of posing a threat to natural areas, even to those with official protected status. The process of extraction involves natural degradation through clearing of forests for mining activities and this destroys the natural habitat of plants and animals. These consequences often lead to a domino effect by disrupting entire ecosystems and causing loss of biodiversity.
At Eternate, we are aware of the irreversible impact mining activities can have on our precious natural areas. That's why we are proud to partner with One Tree Planted, a reputable organization dedicated to global reforestation efforts. Through this partnership, we are committed to planting a tree for each order you make and helping to humbly offset the deforestation caused by some mining practices.
Gold mining can also affect nearby waterways. Produced mine waste can contain a number of toxic chemicals, including cyanide, acids, mercury and arsenic. These toxins often contaminate water bodies, which results in serious long-term ecological damage. According to Earthworks, a significant amount of waste, around 180 million tons2 annually, may be ending up in rivers, lakes and even oceans. This can have long-lasting consequences for all of us. Harmful byproducts like cyanide and heavy metals may enter the food chain and cause health problems in people and animals for generations.
Mining activities, from start to finish, can affect the air we breathe, as well. From digging up the mine itself to producing solid waste and other toxic releases, the entire process contributes significantly to air pollution around the world3. The mining process releases pollutants and greenhouse gasses into the air, which can be harmful to both local communities and the environment.
We touched on the potential long-term health concerns associated with metal mining. These can include neurological issues and cancer, often linked to exposure to toxins, contaminated water and air pollution caused by mining activities. There are also some mining operations that prioritize profit over people. This can lead to a neglect of worker safety and violation of miners’ rights, which puts them at great risk. Fair wages may also be compromised, which leaves miners struggling financially despite the dangerous nature of their work.
The allure of gold can unfortunately come at a social and cultural cost4 too. The gold rush can ignite conflicts over land rights and ownership between companies and indigenous peoples5. This can lead to displacement, where people are forced to move away from their ancestral lands. It's not just a physical disruption either. Their cherished traditions, cultural practices and the very way of life they've known for generations are disrupted, as well. The cultural and spiritual connection these communities have to their environment is often disregarded by governments and business interests. This lack of respect can fuel social unrest and result in instability, increased crime rates and a strain on local resources.
Both mined and recycled gold are ultimately formed through geological processes that occurred naturally deep within the Earth. However, unlike newly mined gold, recycled gold is created by collecting gold from existing sources like old jewelry, electronics and industrial byproducts. These are then all melted down, refined and purified to create new gold. Recycled gold can therefore reduce the demand for newly mined gold, which often involves environmental impact and ethical concerns. That's the biggest difference between the two.
Here is why recycled gold is a responsible choice you can feel good about:
It's clear that mining gold can come at a great cost for the environment and communities alike. That's why responsible gold mining practices are more important than ever. We need proper regulations and controls that ensure everyone benefits, from respecting indigenous traditions to protecting our dear planet.
At Eternate, responsible jewelry is our golden rule. We believe in ethical, conflict-free practices from the ground up. Through recycled gold jewelry, we can help lower the demand for freshly mined gold. This, in turn, can seriously reduce the environmental and social impacts of traditional mining. That's why we're committed to using 100% recycled gold at Eternate. It's part of our social and environmental responsibility pledge. So, every single stunning piece you wear from us is crafted responsibly and using gold that's already been around. Ethically sourced and made with care – that's the Eternate promise.
Dirty gold mining is mining practices that prioritize only profit by extracting gold quickly, irresponsibly, without proper safety measures, and often at the expense of people involved and the environment. At Eternate, we do not carry dirty gold jewelry. We source all our metals and gemstones responsibly.
Both cyanide and mercury are used in gold mining. They can be highly toxic and damaging to health and ecosystems if not handled properly.
Cyanide is used in gold mining because it's a very effective way to dissolve gold out of low-grade ore. Gold doesn't easily separate from rock, but cyanide can attract the gold particles efficiently.
Absolutely. Recycled gold is every bit as real as gold mined directly from the Earth.
Yes, recycled gold is definitely good quality. During recycling, the gold is refined to remove impurities and meet karat standards just like mined gold. Recycling does not degrade the purity value of gold. So, it is as pure and durable as mined gold. In fact, as gold can be reused so effectively, your gold jewelry most likely contains some recycled gold already.
As gold mining comes at the expense of environmental harm as well as human health, recycled gold stands as a more sustainable, ethical and responsible option. Recycled gold is also just as pure and beautiful as mined gold.
Certainly. Since gold doesn't tarnish or degrade, it can be melted down and reused to create beautiful new pieces.
Old jewelry, electronics and other gold-containing items are gathered. The collected items are then sorted by gold content and type. Afterwards, they are melted using various techniques to remove impurities and create pure gold. So, you can expect your recycled gold jewelry to last just as long, be as shiny and beautiful as mined gold. After all, recycled gold is still pure gold.