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Fairtrade Standard for Gold and Associated Precious Metals for Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining

Fairtrade seeks to make trade fair by connecting farmers and workers with the people who buy their products.The FAIRTRADE Mark represents fairly produced and fairly traded products. It also indicates that the product is fully traceable from farm to shelf.

The Fairtrade Standard for Gold seeks to create opportunities for artisanal and small-scale miners and their communities by promoting the formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector through establishing membership-based artisanal and small-scale mining organizations (ASMO).

The aims are to improve working conditions for miners and strengthened mining organizations and their capacity to lobby for a range of improvements and benefits.

Fairmined Standard

The Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) developed the Standard Zero standard for responsibly mined gold, silver and platinum into the ASM sector between 2006 and 2008. In 2009, based on Standard Zero, the first version of the Fairmined Standard was developed in partnership with Fairtrade. By 2013, ARM and Fairtrade were seeking different objectives with the standard and decided to not continue the joint development of the voluntary certification scheme for gold and the initiatives discontinued their partnership.

The Fairmined Standard seeks to support the sustainable development of artisanal and small-scale mining organisations. It includes requirements for mining operations to operate formally and legally, and requirements for environmental protection, improved working conditions, traceability and socio-economic development. The latter is achieved through the Fairmined Premium for mined materials. The Standard also specifies requirements for other participants in the supply chain.

Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production

The Copper Mark is a comprehensive assurance framework focused on demonstrating the copper industry’s responsible production practices.

The Copper Mark Criteria for Responsible Production are management system requirements defined in the Risk Readiness Assessment and the Criteria Guide. The Criteria Guide provides additional guidance, including a description of the performance determination and means of verification for each criterion. All participants of the Copper Mark commit to fully meet all criteria within 24 months. The Risk Readiness Assessment (RRA) is created by the Responsible Minerals Initiative. It represents the core expectations from over 40 leading existing voluntary sustainability standards across all major environmental, social, and governance topics.

Participation in the Copper Mark is open to multi-metal mines that produce other metals alongside copper.