Note: In this article, we refer to silver mining as an example. However, the circumstances described apply to gold mining in a similar way, with similarly serious consequences for humans and the environment.
Silver and gold possess a very special aura and have fascinated people for millennia. In order to process these precious metals, they must first be extracted – most of this through mining. Hardly anyone knows the destructive effects that mining for silver, gold, and other precious metals has on people and nature, and that recycled precious metals offer a wonderful, clean alternative.
Based on current production levels, global silver reserves will be depleted in less than 30 years! To avoid unnecessary exploitation of these precious resources, mined silver should be avoided wherever possible. In this blog post, we would like to explain why recycled silver is a better alternative to mined silver and why we at AVENIDA exclusively use recycled precious metals for our jewelry.
Environmental damage and precarious working conditions caused by silver mining
Larger silver deposits are usually found in less prosperous countries such as Mexico, Bolivia, Indonesia, or Peru. Entire regions are often devastated to develop silver deposits there. Open-pit mines tear massive holes in the landscape and destroy the habitats of animals and plants. Underground mining and the necessary infrastructure such as roads, railway lines, power and water supplies, as well as the construction of sometimes illegal settlements for the workers, also cause enormous damage to often pristine ecosystems. The indigenous inhabitants of the mining areas suffer particularly from this destruction.
In addition to large-scale, industrial mining, there is also so-called artisanal mining, where workers often dig for silver illegally and without mining licenses, using the simplest of means. Conditions here are particularly catastrophic: Workers crawl through ankle-deep mud, descend into narrow shafts without protective equipment or safety equipment, and are exposed to highly toxic chemicals. Violence, crime, slavery, human trafficking, and prostitution are part of everyday life here.
Water - the basis of life
Silver mining is extremely water-intensive. Due to the quantities required, the groundwater level in some mining regions is sinking so low that wells and rivers are drying up. Not only can this destroy the livelihoods of the local people, but in the worst case, the water then returns to the environment as a toxic slurry. Silver ore usually has a silver content of less than one percent. To extract the precious metal, highly toxic substances are usually used, similar to gold mining. The resulting cyanide brine, which usually also contains sulfuric acid and heavy metals, is stored in retention basins. Dam bursts or floods repeatedly lead to accidents, releasing this highly toxic mixture into the environment and contaminating soil and groundwater. The same danger exists when highly toxic, acidic mine water is produced in ore deposits, which, if allowed to seep away unchecked, can poison groundwater and soil indefinitely.
Another problem is the fact that gold and silver mines are repeatedly the subject of armed conflicts, which often result in serious human rights violations. Not to mention the problem of forced and child labor, which are unfortunately not uncommon in gold and silver mining.
Recycled silver as a clean alternative
The value of recycling, i.e., the reuse of objects and consumer goods that have reached the end of their life cycle, is undisputed. This way, resources in the form of raw materials and energy can be saved. However, the newly obtained material does not always have the same quality as the original materials – but this is different with precious metals.
Recycled silver and mined silver are absolutely identical and differ neither visually, chemically, nor physically. Recycled silver therefore has the same quality and has the advantage of eliminating all the problems associated with mining. Furthermore, the energy required for recycling is many times lower than for silver extraction from ore, which also saves a considerable amount of CO2.
When the recycling process, as in the case of AVENIDA, takes place according to RJC standards in Germany or Switzerland, this ensures the greatest possible transparency and security with regard to ethically sound sources of the recycled raw materials.
Why AVENIDA relies on recycled silver
At AVENIDA, we manufacture all our jewelry fairly and sustainably in Germany, using 100 percent recycled silver and gold. In this way, we aim to contribute to conserving these scarce natural resources, protecting our environment, and avoiding inhumane working conditions. For us, design and quality are inextricably linked to sustainability and fairness. We want to give our customers the opportunity to wear jewelry that is not only beautiful and long-lasting, but also lives up to its responsibility to people and nature.