Provenance is important to us. It’s also increasingly significant to buyers and investors of gold and silver, who value the assurance that they are not only buying an exceptional precious metal but also making a substantial contribution to the producing mining communities.
Sadly, there have been instances in the past where an abuse of human rights and poor sourcing of precious metals and gemstones have been intertwined. Today, it’s only natural that consumers and producers alike are engaged with the chain of custody of precious metal and gemstone products, and whether the precious metals we sell are being purchased for jewellery or as an investment, our customers need to be confident that their metal has been ethically sourced.
Betts Metals is proud to be the only refinery in the UK that is audited and FLOCERT-accredited to produce Fairtrade gold and silver. What is more, we are the world’s first Single Mine Origin gold refiner. This, along with our unparalleled in-house manufacturing capabilities, ensures that we are leading the way in providing a broad range of ethical options for physical precious metal investment.
SMO Gold (Single Mine Origin)
Single Mine Origin ‘SMO’ gold is 24 carat pure gold, produced and refined from one single mine site and plant. In an age where traceability is paramount, SMO-certification is the ultimate stamp of approval in precious metals.
SMO confirms that your gold is derived from a legitimate mining operation. It confirms that your gold holds no ties to conflict and has been produced at a mine where trade relationships are upheld with unwavering responsibility.
By purchasing SMO gold, investors and commercial buyers are supporting miners who are being paid a just wage under secure and safe employment. This in turn has a positive effect on the lives of the miners’ families and local communities, who can benefit from the sustainability initiatives in place at the mine site and from residing in a region where legal business thrives.
But SMO standards are not just advocated at the mine site, they are present at every stage of production. This is why SMO gold coins are produced at the Betts Metals refinery – the most ethical gold refinery in the world and now the world’s first SMO refinery.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade certification is an independent and ethical approach to ensuring gold and silver are responsibly mined. This enables the artisanal and small-scale mines involved to have greater financial security by knowing there is a minimum price for their precious metal, dignity and improved working conditions. The additional Fairtrade Premium they receive is to invest in building the future for their families and communities. Only Fairtrade certified items can be Fairtrade Stamped. These include jewellery, ingots, coins, trophies and medals. Learn more about Fairtrade gold.
Want to know exactly what we can produce in Fairtrade Gold or Silver? Contact us on 0121 233 2413 or by email on sales@bettsmetals.co.uk.
Fairmined
Fairmined is an assurance label that verifies gold from empowered responsible artisanal and small-scale mining businesses. It strives to transform the entire mining industry into a force for good through ensuring social development and environmental protection. Step by step, it seeks to eradicate economic exploitation and ecological destruction, and looks to a future where all gold is sourced in a fashion that investors and buyers can be proud of.
