FEATURE
being Wales). This means they have committed to promoting Fairtrade and must pledge
to Above, left to right:
Ana-Maria Rubiano Prieto (Fairtrade Foundation Product Integrity Officer, Dave Merry (Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office’s Head of Training, Education & Trading Standards Liaison), Dan Odida (General Secretary, Micodepro), Toby Rule (Fairtrade Foundation, Licensing and Customer Services Officer)Victoria Waugh in the laboratory at the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in Autumn 2016
away there, but it’s their goal. Valerio said then: “The UK market is the ethical jewellery market of the world. In my opinion, we have the best ethical performance in the world, particularly around those foundational principles of transparency and traceability.” Needless to say, the clout of America recognising and promoting the campaign would certainly make a large difference. A second African mining co- operative is seeking Fairtrade certification which would come into effect this year and would widen the Fairtrade network again this year. Dan Omondi Odida, general secretary of Micodepro Development Group, Kenya, visited the UK in September 2016. He met
businesses and
campaigners all over the UK to raise awareness of how gold is mined and encourage people to buy Fairtrade gold.
He visited the Goldsmiths Company Assay Office to learn more about the UK jewellery sector and hallmarking requirements and was curious to learn about the alloy mixes which create differing carats and colours. He also went onto The Rock Hound studio in East London, and saw how the workshop receives its Fairtrade Gold, and examined their pieces struck with the Fairtrade mark.
February 2017 |
jewelleryfocus.co.uk
Omondi Odida spoke at the Scottish Fair Trade Campaigner Conference which Martin Rhodes, director of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, described crucially as “our most international Fairtrade conference to date”.
Odida could explain first-hand
that millions of men and women in his home country mine by hand the seams of gold around Lake Victoria informally at best, illegally at worst. Many are indebted to middlemen and the gold they sell often trades dramatically below the global price.
Through Fairtrade, Odida’s co-operative has been trained in health and safety, how to use mercury safely, and business skills. One of the ambitions of his co-operative, once they achieve Fairtrade
certification, is to be
able to produce their gold without the use of mercury. Tragically, the toxic chemical has caused serious long-term health conditions and even death in men, women and children in the area. His group also wants to invest in primary education and healthcare and to support local orphans whose parents died following mining accidents or illness.
It is of interest that the conference took place in Scotland, as it is a Fairtrade nation – one of only two in the world (the other
achieve certain targets and meet various criteria. Need we see this level of support before ethically produced metal is a staple in the trade? Are larger companies’ pledges to increase their use of ethically sourced gold enough? Another new year motto rings true here for Victoria Waugh, gold product manager at the Fairtrade Foundation: “There is so much truth in the phrase ‘small changes add up to huge results’. Consumers are increasingly taking notice of the impact of their buying habits, and are starting to recognise they are accountable for their purchases. As we continue to highlight the need for Fairtrade, we will see demand from these consumers grow. It’s a great time for jewellers to embrace Fairtrade Gold into their businesses. We encourage jewellers to make it their new year’s resolution.”
MORE INFORMATION
A new online service will be launched by the Fairtrade Foundation this spring. The e-learning platform, designed with support from the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), the Company of Master Jewellers and the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, will help retail sales staff to sell Fairtrade Gold and boost jewellery sales. Fairtrade Gold is already used by over 250 businesses in the UK including online retailer Argos, fine jewellery brand Clogau Gold, luxury bespoke jeweller Harriet Kelsall and pioneer ethical jeweller CRED. If you would like to use Fairtrade Gold in your business visit
fairtrade.org.uk/goldbusiness for more information.
JEWELLERY FOCUS 61
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