In the fashion industry's sustainable efforts, the quest for responsible jewelry is also relevant. The demand for precious metals is greater than the world's production and resources do not last forever. Mining has a negative impact on the environment, but it also poses social and health problems. But in recent years, gold and silver, the most popular jewelry materials, can be recycled to create new jewelry.
Today at Planderful will tell you everything you need to know about recycling precious materials, in this case, gold and silver. Let 's start!
What is recycled gold?
We all know that gold is one of the most valuable materials, but it is also one of the most valued due to its properties. It is highly ductile and malleable, which allows it to be given the shape and thickness that suits you best. It does not oxidize, decompose or corrode, which is why it is used in electronics and medicine as well as in jewelry.
In addition, gold can be melted and reshaped countless times without altering its composition. This makes gold one of the most recycled materials, and it is even one of the pioneering materials to be reused and recycled.
Gold's impact on the planet
Since gold was discovered more than 6,000 years ago, 190,400 tons of gold have been extracted, according to the World Gold Council.
If we analyze its origin, 85% comes from industrial mining, which has a brutal environmental impact: every 20 grams of gold extracted generates 40 metric tons of mining waste, more than 520 grams of greenhouse gases and consumes 50,000 liters of water and 7.8 kg of cyanide. All this without taking into account the precarious working conditions that often exist in the mines.
The other 15% comes from artisanal and small-scale mining, a type of mining that is more responsible with the planet but which also has certain consequences. It is estimated that for every kilo of gold from responsible mining, 3 kg of mercury are used.
Jewels are not simply metal objects, they are pieces loaded with symbolism. It doesn't seem fair to tarnish that symbolism with a negative story about the origin of the material.
Why use recycled gold?
69% of the gold extracted has been destined for jewelry and investment gold, which means that it is easy to recycle because it is in a high degree of purity and in the hands of individuals. Practically all the gold that man has extracted from the Earth is still with us, only 2% of the gold extracted over time has been wasted or lost track of. So why not take advantage of it and avoid the depletion of the planet's resources.
Gold is increasingly amenable to recycling: global gold demand was 2,181.7 tons in the first half of 2019. Of this total, one third was met through recycled gold according to World Gold Council data.
Source: https://www.gold.org/goldhub/research/ups-and-downs-gold-recycling
Where does recycled gold come from?
Recycled gold basically comes from jewelry, which accounts for about 90% of the total. And around 10% comes from electronic waste. Some people are not aware of the value of the gold in their electronic devices, so they simply throw them away. Much of the gold that was used in the 1980s and 1990s in the manufacture of electronic devices is now lying in landfills.
What about recycled silver?
Gold production from recycling is becoming increasingly important. However, silver is suffering a significant drop in mining production. This is the reason why silver recycling is becoming more and more necessary.
At current production volumes, most of the silver mines currently in existence are expected to be exhausted within 30 years. Hence, with the growing industrial demand for silver, it will be necessary to increase the volume of recycling to maintain production of the metal.
Nevertheless, there is a considerable amount of silver jewelry, as it has never gone out of fashion and is more affordable than gold jewelry. In the case of silver ingots and coins, it is easier to determine the real value of the silver they contain, since the purity and the amount of metal they contain is known for certain. Therefore, it is only necessary to consult the current price of the metal.
One of the most common silver possessions for many years in middle-class households has been cutlery, so it is common for it to still be an important source of recycled silver. Especially since they have been replaced for years by stainless steel cutlery, which is cheaper and easier to preserve.
As with the gold pieces, the silver ones bear a hallmark indicating their pure metal content. So it would be enough to examine this hallmark to know how much silver the object in question contains.
Of course, silver recyclers do not rely on these hallmarks alone to determine the purity of the products, but have X-ray fluorescence (XRF) devices that allow them to analyze the pieces and more accurately determine their pure silver content.
Source: https://news.nus.edu.sg/recovering-precious-metals-from-e-waste/
Give your jewelry a second life
We all have certain pieces of jewelry that have been sitting in a drawer for years, your communion medal, your birth earrings or even an old ring from your grandmother. You know you'll never wear it but you don't want to part with it because of its sentimental value. But what if you could transform it into a piece of jewelry that you love, that you will wear every day, and keep all its meaning?
That's the magic of gold and silver, they can return to their original state, transform and keep all their properties and value. Every time you look at your new ring, your new pendant or your new earring you will think of the person who gave you that old piece. When you are asked about your precious jewel you will explain that it was an old medal that was given to you and that you decided to transform.
Visit Planderful's website and explore our jewelry.
