There are several initiatives underway that will make cleaner sourcing of gold by 2030 a feasible target, in fact many companies are sourcing Cleaner Gold already. The Cleaner Gold Pledge for Industry encourages a coordinated and collective response to increase the transparency of the gold supply chain. It also aims to create market demand for mercury-free, responsibly mined gold that protects the Amazon and other environmentally sensitive ecosystems.

Businesses who make The Gold Commitment can accept gold from:

• Artisanal and Small-scale Mineral Producers (AMP)
• Gold from large-scale mines (LSM)
• Gold from certified recycled sources

A. Artisanal and Small-scale sources

When sourcing from AMP organizations, the Cleaner Gold Commitment expects:

• CORE EXPECTATION
  Purchasers of AMP gold adhere to a minimum requirement of the Code of Risk-mitigation for Artisanal and small-scale mining engaging in Formal Trade (CRAFT). There is artisanal mining taking place in countries where even the CRAFT scheme is not not widely attainable, but companies with specific programs for sourcing conflict-free gold from areas identified as Conflict-Affected or High Risk will be able to participate.
  
  • CRAFT
    Compliance is demonstrated by a formal CRAFT Scheme (including modules 1-4) between the ASM Mineral Producer (AMP) and the purchaser with the addition of three criteria: 1) mercury-free production 2) respecting the right of indigenous people, 3) and avoid/mitigate operations in critical habitats.
  • Conflict-Free gold from Conflict-Affected or High Risk areas will be handled on a case by case basis
    
• OTHER ACCEPTED AMP gold sources
  • Fairmined certified mining organizations or refineries that carry Fairmined certified material
  • Fairtrade certified mining organizations or refineries that carry Fairtrade certified material
  • Just Gold coming from AMP’s participating in IMPACT’s Just Gold program
  • Gold sourced through the Swiss Better Gold program
  • Gold coming from mining organizations participating in the planetGOLD program*
    *The planetGOLD program is in progress. Gold that meets planetGOLD criteria will reach the gold market through different channels at different times depending on the strategies of participating countries. 
• MEANS OF VERIFICATION
  • Fairmined: Gold is purchased from a Fairmined Authorized Supplier, or directly from a certified Fairmined Mining Organizations and the transaction can be verified. 
  • Fairtrade: Gold is purchased from an Authorized Fairtrade Gold Supplier, or directly from a certified Fairtrade Mining Organization and the transactions can be verified.
  • Just Gold: Gold is purchased from a refiner or directly from a jeweler. Just Gold is a program managed by IMPACT. The gold is fully traceable from the mine to the consumer.
  • Swiss Better Gold: Gold is purchased by members of the Swiss Better Gold program.
  • planetGOLD program: The planetGOLD program is in progress. Gold that meets planetGOLD criteria will reach the gold market through different channels at different times depending on the strategies of participating countries. Check back for updates.

B. Large-Scale sources

When sourcing from LSM organizations, the Cleaner Gold Commitment expects:

• CORE EXPECTATION
  Qualifying companies need to source gold from mines participating in the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). At this time, the number of participating mines is limited and full-certification is difficult to achieve. Therefore, at minimum, “participating” is defined by:
  
  
  • Mine sites that have begun the IRMA Self-Assessment process
    
    MEANS OF VERIFICATION
    Gold from mines participating in IRMA can be verified through purchase records cross checked against IRMA’s records.

3. Recycled Sources

When sourcing recycled gold, the Cleaner Gold Commitment expects:

• CORE REQUIREMENT
  Post-consumer recycled gold content from verifiable sources.
• MEANS OF VERIFICATION
  Recycled gold content is verified by external third-party certifications, affidavits, purchase records. Jewelers claiming recycled content should have claims audited or provide evidence of supply chain control back to the post-consumer source.