When the Alliance for Responsible Mining developed its first standard there was no international certification scheme for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Fair trade generally only dealt with agricultural products, and consumers had close to no way of knowing where their gold came from. When buying Fairtrade and Fairmined gold you can trace your gold back to the mine and know that the miners have good working conditions. They take care of the environment, and you support social and economic development in their communities.
Artisanal and small-scale mining supports the livelihoods of between 100–150 million people around the world (60–100 million for gold) and has a huge potential for sustainable development of impoverished communities. Fair standards for ASM can make this potential a reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment