I am thrilled that Vogue business published an article about reycled gold. This is why I want to share a quick summary and a link to the article here:
Recycled gold has become a sustainability buzzword in the jewellery industry. Major brands like Pandora and Prada now claim to use 100% recycled gold, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. On the surface, it sounds like a win for the planet. But the reality is more complicated.
The term “recycled” is used broadly in the industry. The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) includes old jewelry, manufacturing scraps, and unused industrial gold under its definition – even if those materials were never discarded or part of a waste stream. Critics argue this amounts to greenwashing, allowing newly mined or even illicit gold to be laundered into legal supply chains under a green label.
This focus on recycling also risks sidelining much-needed reform in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), which supports an estimated 15 million people globally, many of whom work in unsafe or environmentally harmful conditions. Without industry support, ASM may continue to operate under high-risk practices.
Meanwhile, e-waste — a truly discarded material — remains largely ignored. The UN estimates only 20% of electronic waste is properly recycled, despite containing valuable metals like gold. Experts warn that this untapped stream could offer a far more sustainable source of recycled gold if recovered properly.
Bottom line: Recycled gold can offer environmental benefits – but only if we clearly define and verify what “recycled” really means. And it must be part of a broader effort to support ethical mining and invest in true waste recovery like e-waste.
Find the full article here: