Social and Environmental Consequences of the Jewelry Industry
Mural Bauzite Mining, by Julius Woeltz, in Saline County Courthouse in Benton, Arkansas
Perhaps because you don't use diamonds and precious metals, you think your art is conflict-free. The truth is that it isn't. That stone you bought at the gem fair in Arizona may be killing someone with silicosis in India, and the metal for your body jewelry may be mined with forced child labor and supplying a cartel in El Congo. Those are facts that are good to know!
The following is a link library of articles about the social and environmental consequences of not having a sustainable supply chain. In a later blog, I will mention where to find sustainable metals and stones, but in the meantime, learn the implications of your art.
Photo by TIC (tantalum-niobium international study center)
Niobium: Used in the body jewelry industry
Coltan, the industrial name for a columbite-tantalite mineral from which niobium and tantalum are extracted, is considered a conflict resource. Some of the problems linked to it are fueling cartels, forced child labor, human rights violations, and other environmental issues.
KIMBERLEY DIAMONDS ARE NOT CONFLICT FREE
"The Kimberley Process relies on a narrow "conflict diamond" definition that only focuses on rough diamonds sold by rebel groups seeking to overthrow a legitimate government, ignoring a wide range of human rights" -Quote from the 2018 report of the jewelry industry by the Human Rights Watch organization.
The following link will take you to the speech given by Shamiso Mtisi on behalf of the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, which in a few worlds represent and care for diamond workers, at the 2021 meeting of the Kimberley Process (Certification established in 2003 to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream). The speech lists in detail, by country, the conflict communities are currently experiencing.
Link to the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition website.
Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels
Non-precious stones from India and Silicosis
Stonecutters in India are not provided with the proper safety equipment because they are not employees legally. They get paid for the stones they carve, and they work at home, where their families are also affected by the stone dust that causes silicosis. I became aware of this problem at the Responsible Jewelry Conference, where I saw Dr. Jagdish Patel from Peoples Training and Research Center from India speak. Read more about their work below.
Photo credit: River of Gold Project
Gold and the illegal deforestation of the Amazon
The River of Gold Documentary "examines the devastating and global environmental and humanitarian consequences of small-scale illegal gold mining in the Amazon." The movie produced by the Amazon Aid Foundation offers solutions to save the rainforest.
Photo credit: Shadow of Gold
Gold, what is the cost of it, and who pays for it?
"The Shadow of Gold is a global investigation of the ultimate talisman of wealth, beauty, and power. Filmed in China, Peru, Canada, the U.S., London, Dubai, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Shadow of Gold reveals the impact of gold mining and the gold trade on our economy, environment, and conflicts. Watch to discover what our lust for gold costs. And who pays the price."
Image: Human Rights Watch
Challenges of the Responsible Jewelry Industry by Human Rights Watch.
I recommend taking a look at these articles, they are long, but they present an overview of the jewelry industry's challenges.
Since 2018 Human Rights Watch has been evaluating well-known jewelry and watch companies to determine what practices they are implementing to avoid contributing to issues like child labor, environmental destruction, and violence against civilians with their supply chains. Since they began their reports, most companies have improved their ranking, except those that refuse to go through the process.
• "How Can Jewellery Brands Minimise Human Rights Risks in Their Supply Chains?"
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