Did you know?

When buying gold jewellery, make sure you know the origin of the gold before making the purchase.

Gold mining can be associated with deforestation, toxic waste, mercury pollution and unethical working conditions.

Small-scale gold miners are tearing down the forest to access the rich gold deposits beneath. For example deforestation on the Amazon has increased strongly due to gold mining.

Gold mining is also responsible for releasing large amounts of cyanide and mercury into the air and water. It can generate about 20 tons of toxic waste for every 0.333-ounce gold ring.

Mercury is a liquid metal and is used in artisanal and small-scale gold mining to extract gold from rock and sediment. It is toxic and is poisoning plants, animals, fish, and people.

Finally, gold mining can be also associated with unethical working conditions.

So what can we do?

Make sure you know the origin of the gold you are buying. Some sellers can certify that they work with ethical and sustainable providers.

Even better, why not buying second hand jewellery? You will reduce the need for gold mining and you could find amazing jewellery at a reduced price.

Finally, some jewellery creators work from recycled gold. That is also a great solution to reduce gold mining. Easy!