MineWeb
By Dorothy Kosich
Target, the third largest U.S. retail chain and the 10th ranked domestic jewelry retailer, has become the 73rd signer of EARTHWORKS' No Dirty Gold campaign pledge to seek cleaner sources of gold and other precious metals for jewelry.
The Washington, D.C.-based NGO EARTHWORKS said Target now joins luxury brands, such as Tiffany and Cartier, to retail chains like Sears/Kmart, Walmart, QVC and JC Penney, who have agreed to buy precious metals only from mining companies, which abide by "The Golden Rules."
Macy's and Costo are the two remaining retailers in the "Top 10" who have not signed the pledge.
These rules call on mining companies to respect basic human rights; obtain the free, prior and informed consent of affected communities; ensure mining operators are not located in areas of armed or militarized conflict; and ensure that mining projects do not force communities off their lands.
Other golden rules call for mining projects that are not located in protected areas, fragile ecosystems, or other areas of high conservation or ecological value; refrain from dumping mine wastes into the ocean, rivers, lakes, or streams; ensure mining projects do not contaminate water, soil, or air with sulfuric acid drainage or other toxic chemicals; and cover all aspects of the closure and reclaiming of mine sites.
The rules also require mining companies to fully disclose information about the social and environmental effects of their projects, and allow independent verification of compliance with the golden rules.
"Target is proud to be part of the No Dirty Gold campaign," said Tim Mantel, president, Target Sourcing Services. "Our approach to sourcing products throughout the world is grounded in our heritage of strong business ethics."
EARTHWORKS said Target's pledge to abide by the Golden Rules "comes at a time when there is movement towards improved tracing and certification mechanisms for mine production."
The Golden Rules signatories have been committed to seeking third party certification of responsible mining practices when it becomes available. EARTHWORKS noted, "Discussions are advancing on third party certification...through the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)."
IRMA was launched in Vancouver in 2006 with the mission to develop and establish a voluntary system to independently verify compliance with environmental, human rights and social standards for mining operations. Participants include mining companies, jewelry retailers, NGOs and trade associations.
