What Is The Truth Behind Recycled Gold

As consumers we assume if we buy something that says “recycled” it’s good because it will be made from recycled consumer waste – as with plastics, paper or glass.  However, with gold this is not usually the case.

Gold is a valuable commodity so it has been reused for many years. Nobody throws away something that can be so easily melted down and resold for lots of money,  right?

But often the gold being sold to jewellers as ‘recycled’ is not consumer waste, but is instead industrial waste.

For example, large scale mines with dubious track records can put their own production waste through their system again and market it as ‘recycled’ gold.  There is no recognised definition for the word ‘recycled’ in the jewellery world.

So be careful.

If your jeweller is claiming to be super ethical, just because they are selling recycled gold, this is in fact the very LEAST they should be doing.  This is not an ethical claim to be particularly proud of.

The best way to be sure of your recycled gold is to take your own old jewellery to a real goldsmiths (like us) who can melt it up at the bench and turn it into something you love. This way, you know that you really are recycling your own consumer waste.

If you are buying new gold, be careful you understand your options fully.  There are other options you can consider, that are more aligned with your ethical values. Have a look at Fairtrade gold or Fairmined gold or other sources where the gold origin can be traced and verified.

And most importantly: Always ask people to back up their ethical claims! You have a right to know the provenance of materials in your jewellery. Plus then you can be sure they aren’t greenwashing.

If you have any questions or want to know more, read about recycled gold or get in touch.