Fair’s Fair
Weston Beamor is delighted to announce that it has become the UK’s first ever casting company to be able to offer its customers the option of having their castings produced in ‘Fairtrade and Fairmined’ gold.
Weston Beamor is delighted to announce that it has become the UK’s first ever casting company to be able to offer its customers the option of having their castings produced in ‘Fairtrade and Fairmined’ gold.
The move is the result of several months of intensive work with the Fairtrade Foundation, the independent non-profit organisation that licenses the use of the FAIRTRADE Mark on products in the UK in accordance with internationally agreed Fairtrade standards.
To be accepted as a ‘Fairtrade and Fairmined’ producer, Weston Beamor has had to put in place a rigorous tracking system to trace the gold throughout its manufacturing processes and thus ensure that it is kept entirely separate from all the company’s other production alloys. Having done this it has recently received ratification to operate as a Fairtrade supplier.
The gold Weston Beamor will be working with is a world first in so far as it has been mined using an independent, ethical certification system for monitoring small-scale miners, working mainly in Bolivia and Peru and offers a fair deal for all those involved in the production process.
There was great excitement on the company’s stand at The Jewellery Show at Spring Fair Birmingham when it was visited by representatives of two the mining cooperatives that will actually supply Weston Beamor with its Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.
Mrs Juana Pena, Chair of the Cooperative Minera Cotapata in Bolivia and Mr Manuel Reinoso, of the Compania Minera La Victoria in Peru were shown examples of the sort of products which will eventually be created using their gold and, through their interpreters, chatted to members of the WB team. As they explained conditions in the mines are very harsh. It is extremely cold because of the height at which they work and wet because of underground streams. However Mrs Pena said that she believed gaining Fairtrade status would help her and her fellow workers to gain better prices for their gold and would undoubtedly help to improve their day-to-day working situation.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer Weston Beamor’s customers the chance to work with Fairtrade and Fairmined gold,” says Group Managing Director, Andrew Morton. “Ethics are high on our list of business priorities and this is an excellent way not only to demonstrate pro-actively our commitment to fair-sourcing practices, but also to lead the way in helping to shape the jewellery supply chains of the future.”
At present the supply of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold is relatively limited and casting will be available in just 18ct yellow and white gold and only to those companies and designers who have also received certification from the Fairtrade Foundation to manufacture in the metal.
It is still early days and as yet no prices are available for Fairtrade casting, however it is anticipated that due to a limited supply and strong demand for the actual gold, these will be higher than for ordinary gold. “Jewellery is always a highly emotional purchase and we know from our customers that many, particularly younger, eco-friendly consumers are prepared to pay that little bit more for something they can buy with an easy conscience,” says Morton.
Customers who would be interested in gaining Fairtrade certification should contact the Fair Trade Foundation in London on 0207 405 5942. Those who already have certification may like to contact Tony Shellam at Weston Beamor on 0121 678 4131 who will be pleased to tell you more.
To find out more about Fairtrade and Fairmined gold visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gold
