Choose ethically-mined metals
‘I believe it’s important to choose to use Fairtrade metals, as only through this scheme are you guaranteed that safe environmental practices are used when mining,’ says Stefanie Ying Lin Cheong, who sources these for her jewellery and sculptural objects. ‘It also supports small scale miners to receive a minimum price for their gold. I can trace my gold to the mine it came from through FLOWCERT, which is always nice information to pass on to customers.’
Unlike when it first came on the market in 2012, today Fairtrade gold and silver are easily available for purchase. ‘To use and buy Fairtrade gold now, an individual can apply to the Goldsmiths registration scheme,’ says Cheong. ‘Once registered, you can purchase the chosen gold through a variety of suppliers.’ There are still limitations, however. ‘It’s very difficult to source Fairtrade findings and chains, therefore it's worth thinking about this when designing and planning your pieces.’
Like Messi, Cheong recommends recycling Fairtrade metals where possible. ‘I reuse all of my scraps, dust and offcuts by melting them into ingots, wire or sheet. I also take on bespoke work recycling clients' gold and silver into new designs – that way the metal can hold sentimental value, which is a lovely thing to retain.’