The Great Debate

This month's copy of The Goldsmith magazine includes a great editorial by boutique jeweller and friend of CRED Ute Decker. Ute reports on the meeting "The Great Debate - Working Together to Deliver and Ethical Supply Chain", hosted by the Birmingham Assay Office as part of this year's International Jewellery London Fair in September.

The debate, at which CRED founder Greg Valerio was a key contributor, featured voices from all over the industry, including campaigners, charities, jewellers, miners and the Fairtrade Foundation. Ute's article is a great report of the event, but goes on to describe something of her journey to become an ethical jeweller.

I was appalled to learn about the severe social or

environmental damage gold and silver mining causes; the

extensive use of toxic chemicals such as cyanide, mercury and

arsenic contaminating nearby soil and waterways which can

work their way into the food chain and sicken people and

animals for generations. The displacement of local inhabitants

to make room for mines so massive that apparently some

can be seen from space. If not responsibly mined these vast

areas remain toxic wastelands.

The scale of the damage is illustrated by the more fathomable

example of a single gold wedding ring which leaves in its wake

at least 20 tons of mine waste laced with toxic chemicals.

It's a great introduction to the challenges of bringing an ethical approach into artisanal jewellery production, but also what is possible. Her research into environmentally sustainable workshop practices is not only informative, but an inspiration to us and to all jewellers seeking an ethical approach in what they do.

Since then I have found more useful information on less toxic

studio materials and practices. Including less toxic alternatives

for resin as well as for pickle by using citric acid and rather

than oxidising silver with liver of sulphur – eggs (free range,

from the local farmers’ market, of course) work just as well.

The article ends with the outline of a roadmap for the industry, in seeking to bring an ethical approach to the mainstream jewellery market. Here at CRED we love Ute's ideas, her drive and ambition, and we look forward to working with her, with The Goldsmith, and with the rest of the industry in bringing ethical jewellery to the mainstream.

You can download the full article here. Ute's website also includes links to resources on ethical jewellery issues, for producers and consumers alike.

Conflict Gold in DR Congo

Where does your gold come from?

Although much of the gold in circulation is recycled, and more comes from legitimate mining operations, illegal gold mining and conflict gold are still a significant

The BBC's File on 4 reported this week on illegal gold being smuggled out of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Around 40 tonnes of gold are smuggled from this war-torn country every year, resulting in a $1.24bn (£739m) boost to the armed groups causing such havoc in that nation.

This programme is a fantastic introduction to some of the issues surrounding the gold trades murky corners. You can listen to the programme on iPlayer via this link, or find more information here.

The First (test) Post

Here at CRED we've been pioneering ethical and Fair Trade jewellery for years. We were the first European retailer to sell independently certified Fair Trade gold, and the first high street boutique in the world to sell exclusively ethical jewellery. In 2003 we produced the world's first truly ethical wedding rings; wedding bands made from gold from a traceable source that was certified as socially and environmentally responsible.

We have a real pedigree in the field of ethical jewellery, and we're proud of the product we sell and the standards we maintain. But we're not content to rest on a laurels. We want every customer to be able to ask where their gold, diamonds and gems come from, and every retailer to be able to tell them. Ethical jewellery is a burgeoning trade, but it is still a tiny part of the world market. We can all do more.

In this blog, over the coming weeks and months, we hope to tell you all about the jewellery trade, the good bits, the bad and the downright ugly. We want to shout about the fantastic changes that are happening in the industry and the miners, designers, producers, retailers and campaigners that are seeking to change the way jewellery is made. We'd also like to tell you about some of the beautiful, ethical jewellery that we sell, and hear from you about what issues you care about.

This is an experiment in connection, dialogue and, yes, promotion. Hopefully it will grow and change depending on what you want it to become. We hope you will be with us in the journey, keeping us transparent and accountable.

Thanks for reading
Peace.