Jewelry has always been a dream of mine, but when I first entered the industry, I found myself questioning if this was truly the path I wanted to follow. I discovered a world filled with injustices, environmental damage, and ethical concerns. The more I learned, the more I felt that this wasn’t something I wanted to be a part of.
However, my perspective shifted when I arrived at EMMIE. I began to wonder if there was actually a way to make jewelry sustainable. This curiosity led me to dive deep into research, exploring what sustainability in jewelry truly means.
One of the first things I discovered was that many jewelry brands claim to be sustainable simply because they recycle old jewelry. However, I soon learned that gold and silver has always been recycled—it never loses its properties, and the industry has been repurposing it for years. While recycling is beneficial, it doesn’t necessarily improve the supply chain or address the ethical issues surrounding gold mining. Only the amount of “recycled gold” accredited major refineries had grown by 34% between 2018 and 2021, when in the other hand mining production has only fell by 2%.(MRW, 2024)
A major concern in the jewelry industry is the human and environmental cost of modern mining practices. Large corporations often use destructive methods such as land explosions, One of these methods, a particularly harmful mining method, is alluvial mining, which accelerates mercury contamination. In this process, mercury is mixed with river sediments to bind with gold, forming a small metallic ball. To extract the gold, the mercury is then heated until it evaporates, leaving behind a highly toxic byproduct—methylmercury. This compound is even more hazardous than mercury itself, contaminating the air, soil, and water. (World Wildlife Fund, 2020)
They not only harm the environment but also negatively impact surrounding communities.The chemicals used in mining contaminate water sources, leading to serious health issues for those living nearby. Additionally, once the land is destroyed, resources become depleted, leaving behind areas of poverty and crime. As said in the book that’s how the mining in Mexico looks like, beyond environmental destruction, these communities have faced serious consequences, including work-related accidents, health risks, and economic instability. (Merino, Navarro, Azamar, & Peláez, 2022)
Although sustainability is never enough, the jewelry industry has been moving forward to create a most effective jewelry industry through Fairmined, an initiative whose label certifies gold of responsible origin. Guarantee that it is a traceable gold, extracted with the best mining practices aimed at preserving the environment, and support the development of artisanal and small-scale mining communities. (Alliance for Responsible Mining, n.d.) Supporting small-scale miners who follow sustainable methods can provide jobs and help communities thrive, rather than suffer from exploitation.
Sustainability in jewelry goes beyond just using recycled materials—it requires a commitment to ethical sourcing, fair wages, and responsible environmental practices. As consumers, we have the power to push the industry toward a more sustainable future.
With all this, I’m looking forward now to creating a brand that embarks on a journey to reach sustainability and be able to work with the communities from my country.
Although sustainability is never enough, the jewelry industry has been moving forward to create a most effective jewelry industry through Fairmined, an initiative whose label certifies gold of responsible origin. Guarantee that it is a traceable gold, extracted with the best mining practices aimed at preserving the environment, and support the development of artisanal and small-scale mining communities. (Alliance for Responsible Mining, n.d.) Supporting small-scale miners who follow sustainable methods can provide jobs and help communities thrive, rather than suffer from exploitation.
Sustainability in jewelry goes beyond just using recycled materials—it requires a commitment to ethical sourcing, fair wages, and responsible environmental practices. As consumers, we have the power to push the industry toward a more sustainable future.
With all this, I’m looking forward now to creating a brand that embarks on a journey to reach sustainability and be able to work with the communities from my country.
Isabel Muñoz
EMMIE Scholar from Cohort 3
Bibliography and References
World Wildlife Fund. (2020, September 13). Agua y minería: ¿esas joyas de oro valen la pena? WWF México. https://www.wwf.org.mx/?364730/Agua-y-mineriaesas-joyas-de-oro-valen-la-pena
MRW. (2024, April 18). Recycled gold is greenwashing, warn miners. MRW. https://www.mrw.co.uk/news/recycled-gold-is-greenwashing-warn-miners-18-042024/
Merino, L., Navarro, C., Azamar, A., & Peláez, J. (2022). Así se ve la minería en México. Documentación Colectiva.
Alliance for Responsible Mining. (n.d.). What is Fairmined? Fairmined. Retrieved March 7, 2025, from https://fairmined.org/what-is-fairmined/
