A new level of ethical accreditation is now available in Australia for the fashion set.
Introduced initially in 2011, Fairtrade Certified gold is the world's first independent ethical certification system for gold and the accreditation is now available in Australia.
As the price for the precious metal surges on world markets, hundreds of thousands of workers are lured to seek their fortune in one of the world’s most dangerous industries. However, the Fairtrade gold accreditation offers the guarantee of a product which has been responsibly mined from small-scale and artisanal mines in South America and Africa.
Commenting on the Fairtrade certified gold accreditation now available in Australia, Fairtrade Australia operations manager Craig Chester said it is a coup for Australian retailers and a new consideration for consumers.
“Though gold is mined in Australia, it is also one of our top imports. To consumers it doesn’t automatically spring to mind as a troubled industry, but gold mining in developing countries is riddled with issues, especially in small artisan mines.
"By purchasing Fairtrade Certified gold consumers can be assured that the small-scale and artisanal miners have been treated and paid fairly, with improvements to working and environmental conditions,” he said.
Fairtrade is the world’s most widely-recognised ethical label, as found research conducted by GlobeScan for Fairtrade International. The independent consumer label is now recognised by 50 per cent of Aussie consumers, according to research by the organisation.
Fairtrade consumers bought more than 42 million Fairtrade products in 2012 comprising primarily of chocolate (62 per cent), coffee (31 per cent), tea (six per cent) and cotton and sports products (one per cent).
The total market for sustainable products and services has also almost doubled in the last four years. This is despite rising living costs and signs of a declining appetite from the Australian community for a price on carbon, however, more Australians are continuing to embrace ‘eco’ options.
As a result, on average, there are more than 15 new businesses entering the Fairtrade system in Australia each year.
Jewellery using Fairtrade Certified gold is now being produced by Australian accessories designer Zoe Pook, who designs each of her unique creations with gold from the Sotrami cooperative in Peru. Sotrami was the first Peruvian mining organisation to be Fairtrade Certified.