No Dirty Gold Campaign Targets Macy’s and Costco
February 14, 12
(IDEX Online News) – In a bid to get Macy’s – the fifth-largest retailer of gold jewelry in the United States – to sign up to the “Golden Rules” for more responsible metal sourcing, activists from No Dirty Gold yesterday (Monday) hung a balloon banner at Macys’ Washington, DC flagship store, that said “Macy’s: Don’t Break Our Hearts. Dump Dirty Gold.”
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“Until Macy’s ends its love affair with dirty gold, the company’s commitment to sustainability and transparency is just a bunch of hot air,” said No Dirty Gold campaign coordinator, Nick Magel.
No Dirty Gold is also urging Costco – the ninth-largest gold jewelry supplier – to commit to the Golden Rules. So far, more than 80 jewelers, including the eight other top 10 U.S. jewelry retailers, have taken steps to rid the industry of “dirty metals” by signing the Golden Rules.
The Golden Rules are a set of social, human rights, and environmental criteria for gold and other precious metals. Jewelers who have signed the Golden Rules are committed to work to sell more responsible gold jewelry. Securing jeweler commitments to end dirty gold production is crucial step because approximately 80 percent of newly mined gold is made into jewelry.
“Dirty gold must become a thing of the past,” said No Dirty Gold campaign director Payal Sampat. “No one wants their Valentine’s Day jewelry tainted with human rights abuses or toxic pollution. But this can’t happen unless companies like Macy’s commit to cleaning up their supply chains and sign the Golden Rules,” she added.