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Let your business shine with Fairtrade Gold

Fairtrade Gold is more than just gold, it’s gold with heart. By sourcing Fairtrade certified Gold, you make an important difference for the people who mine this precious mineral as well as the environment. At the same time your commitment holds great value for the expanding segment of conscious consumers.

The Fairtrade Gold Standard is a beacon of economic, social and environmental progress for artisanal and small-scale miners. These miners are often disadvantaged in the global gold trade due to the prevalence of informality and the dependency from local intermediaries within the sector. Fairtrade works alongside the miners to promote formalization and establish longstanding partnerships through fair market access. For a brand at the other end of the supply chain, sourcing Fairtrade Gold is a simple way to create change with fair and traceable provenance. By using the widely recognized and trusted Fairtrade mark, you can emphasize your commitment to miners and their families to your customers.

How Fairtrade makes a difference

Fairtrade combines a set of interventions to make a difference for people and planet. For businesses sourcing Fairtrade Gold, the following are of particular value:

  • Sustainable sourcing: Fairtrade Gold sourcing promotes transparent and long-term trading relationships. By facilitating direct export, it enables certified mining organisations to break free from local intermediaries. At the same time, it allows your brand to source gold in-line with your sustainability goals, and can ensure traceability, from source to shelf.
  • Trust and brand recognition: Fairtrade is the world’s most recognised and trusted sustainability label. With three decades of experience advocating for global trade justice, Fairtrade is a reliable partner in contributing to a fairer and more responsible industry.
  • Due diligence and risk mitigation: Fairtrade is a vital partner in upholding human rights and environmental due diligence, providing essential support to business. Third-party certification through independent audits by FLOCERT mitigates the risks associated with gold mined at artisanal or small scale. This extends to safe handling of toxic chemicals, protecting miners’ health and environmental safety.
  • Impact evidence and storytelling: Fairtrade is about people and the continuous positive changes that arise from collaborating toward a shared vision. As a partner, you have access to impact data, concrete examples and authentic testimonials. This offers you the opportunity to make your commitment visible.

Our three sourcing options

Whether you are an independent goldsmith or a high-street jeweler, we hope you find the sourcing solution that meets your needs as a business. Otherwise, don’t hesitate to get in touch and discuss further options. 

Goldsmith registration scheme

Best for smaller jewelers and goldsmiths who want to: Show their support for miners and the environment by using Fairtrade Gold in their business. Buy less than 500g of Fairtrade Gold per year. Have annual membership by registering through our simple to use online system. Access a range of promotional materials to promote their support for Fairtrade Gold. Registered Goldsmiths have to renew their membership on an annual basis and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. These include only using the pre-approved promotional materials provided. Registered Goldsmiths will need to purchase their Fairtrade metal from a licensed supplier, whose full supply chain is audited to Fairtrade Gold Standards. Finished pieces of jewellery will not be able to have the Fairtrade stamp applied due to traceability ending with the supplier. Registered Goldsmiths are also able to purchase ‘white label’ finished products which do carry the Fairtrade Stamp (for example, ring mounts and wedding bands) from a Fairtrade licensed supplier. (In certain countries an annual fee might apply)

Register here

Licensees

Best for businesses who want to: - Know that their Fairtrade Gold is traceable from the mine to finished jewelry piece. - Have the Fairtrade stamp applied (in certain countries by the Assay Office) to finished pieces as a consumer guarantee that the gold has been responsibly mined. - Use the Fairtrade Gold Mark on promotional materials to communicate the Fairtrade Gold story to their customers. - Benefit from involvement in Fairtrade marketing and campaign activities. Licensees are required to sign a license agreement with Fairtrade and to register all pieces that are produced using Fairtrade precious metal. Approval is also sought for any materials featuring the FAIRTRADE Gold Mark. Once set up licensees will be required to report on the volume of precious metal sold annually and will be charged a license fee. For the specific fees please contact your local Fairtrade Organization.

Contact your local fairtrade organisation

Licensees are also required to sign a certification contract with FLOCERT (the independent Fairtrade certification and auditing organization). This will mean signing up to comply with the Fairtrade Standards for Gold and Precious Metals and the Fairtrade Trader Standard which FLOCERT will audit against. A certification fee will apply to cover this auditing and monitoring and you can use FLOCERT’s cost calculator to estimate these fees.

Please note, that the Licensee Scheme can also be combined with the Gold Sourcing Program. Don’t hesitate to get in touch to get your customized sourcing plan: info@fairtrade.gold

Gold sourcing programme

Best for business that want to: -Enter into a long-term sourcing commitment in support of Fairtrade Gold. - Have sourcing interests of 100kg+ per year. - Do not prioritize the use of the Fairtrade stamp on finished pieces but integrating Fairtrade certified ASM Gold into the regular sourcing. - Are interested in making claims relating to their Fairtrade sourcing commitment in CSR and other online materials. Our Gold Sourcing Program recognizes the challenges larger operators face in folding responsibly sourced gold into finished pieces of jewelry. This sourcing model has been designed to enable such businesses to purchase Fairtrade certified gold from a certified refiner, and to use it in their manufacturing facilities alongside non-Fairtrade gold. The resulting pieces of jewelry cannot bear the Fairtrade Mark or a claim linked back to Fairtrade. However, the buying-business is able to generate a range of claims at an organizational level, linked to the volumes of Fairtrade Gold purchased and the associated level of Fairtrade Premium generated for mining communities. Please note, that the Gold Sourcing Program can also be combined with the Licensee Scheme.

Fairtrade authorised suppliers

Below you find a list of authorised suppliers and manufacturers who are licensed to supply Fairtrade certified semi-finished precious metals to Fairtrade licensees and registered goldsmiths. All authorised suppliers are subject to regular independent audits against the Fairtrade Standards. Click on the links below for more information about each company:

Below you will find the list

  • Authorised suppliers (2024)