Responsible Gold Sourcing from Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Scoping Study on Developing Pilot Supply Chains Imprint Editor: Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, BGR) Stilleweg 2 30655 Hannover Germany Authors: Fabian Stähr, Philip Schütte Contact: Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe Stilleweg 2 30655 Hannover
[email protected] Date: September 2016 ISBN: 978-3-943566-93-2 (PDF) Cover photos: © Gold washing (Burundi), Photo: D. Braun (left) © Entrance of SOTRAMI ASM-Cooperative (Peru), Photo: BGR (middle) © Underground gold mining (Columbia), Photo: BGR (right) Copyright: © 2016 Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe Responsible Gold Sourcing from Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Scoping Study on Developing Pilot Supply Chains Fabian Stähr, Philip Schütte Hannover, September 2016 Responsible Gold Sourcing from Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Scoping Study on Developing Pilot Supply Chains Executive Summary Public and political discussions increasingly acknowledge the role of responsible supply chains in order to support decent working conditions, protect the environment and apply adequate due diligence. In recent years, companies have demonstrated that through apply- ing supply chain due diligence they may act as partners contributing to improved conditions of production of certain raw materials. Establishing certification schemes and institutionaliz- ing supply chain management in line with the OECD Guidance serves to strengthen cooper- ation between producers and buyers; compliance with international minimum standards may be demonstrated in a credible way. Gold forms one of the most important products of the global mining sector. About 10% of global gold mine production originates from artisanal and small-scale mining. Artisanal and small-scale mining represents an important livelihood base for the local population: 10-20 million small-scale miners, and their families, directly depend on gold mining.