The Golden Choice: Newly Mined vs Recycled vs Repurposed Gold

In jewellery, gold can hold an undeniable attraction, symbolizing luxury and elegance. However, as awareness of environmental concerns grows, so does the scrutiny of gold sourcing and production methods.

I recently spent a day at the ImpactX Summit, Australia’s largest global summit for climate and nature, listening to ways in which business is helping to drive change.

You may already know my passion for the re-use of material over newly mined resources but thought it worth a bit of a deep dive comparison between mined gold and repurposed gold sourced from small artisan workshops like mine, considering key factors such as CO2 emissions, waste production, water usage, and pollution. And disclaimer, I did my best to grab info from reputable sites – but who knows what’s real and not real on the web these days!

1. CO2 Emissions
The extraction and refinement of newly mined gold result in substantial CO2 emissions. On average, the carbon footprint is approximately 16 metric tons of CO2 per kilogram.

Recycled gold significantly reduces the need for mining and refining processes. While energy costs are still associated with collection, refining, and remelting, the carbon footprint of recycled gold is substantially lower. Estimates suggest that recycled gold emits around 1-4 metric tons of CO2 per kilogram, depending on the refining methods used.

By contrast, repurposing your old gold to use in new jewellery generates significantly fewer CO2 emissions. and I mean really significant! LPG produces 1.51kg of Co2 per litre. It roughly takes about 3 mg of LPG to melt 4 grams. Even if you quadruple that (maybe It was a bad day and there was lots of wind about and ice cold weather) the amount of Co2 is negligble.

2. Waste Production
Gold mining operations generate significant quantities of waste, including rock debris, tailings, and chemical byproducts. On average, gold mining produces approximately 20-30 tonnes of waste per kilogram of gold extracted.

Recycling gold, captured from existing jewellery, electronics, and industrial scrap reduces the need for new mining. While there’s still some waste produced during the refining process, it’s generally less significant compared to mining operations.

Repurposing your existing gold to make new jewellery in small trade workshops minimizes waste production since existing materials are utilized rather than extracting new resources. The waste generated is minimal…there might be a few broken saw blades and some emery paper!

3. Water Usage
Newly Mined Gold: Gold mining operations consume substantial amounts of water for ore processing, dust suppression, and other purposes. On average, it’s estimated that gold mining requires around 750-1,000 liters of water per GRAM of gold produced. That’s a lot of water!

The water footprint of recycled gold is considerably lower since it bypasses the water-intensive mining phase. However, water is still required for refining and processing, albeit in smaller quantities compared to traditional mining operations.

About the only water used when using your existing repurposed gold in remakeries is for rinsing and cleaning the jewellery….and maybe for making a cup of tea!

4. Pollution Generated
Gold mining activities can release a lot of pollutants into the environment, including mercury, cyanide, and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants can contaminate soil, water, and air, posing risks to ecosystems and human health.

While the refining process for recycled gold may still involve the use of chemicals, the overall pollution footprint is reduced compared to mining. Additionally, recycling helps prevent the release of pollutants associated with mining activities.

So there you have it! Using your existing unloved and broken gold jewellery to repurpose and remake into new has a minuscule effect and seems like a no-brainer if you’re keen to have luxury without the massive environmental cost of newly mined gold.
By supporting ethical and environmentally conscious practices, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Source: World Gold Council, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Oeko-Institut e.V.