Gold Industry Declaration of Responsibility and Sustainability Principles
A sector-wide statement of ambition on responsible and sustainable business practices designed to accelerate collective action across the gold sector.
This is the first time in recent history that key industry participants from across the gold value chain have made a shared commitment to a responsible and sustainable gold market.
The Declaration is a single point of reference describing significant principles-based sustainability objectives across the whole gold value chain, from mine to market. The Declaration’s ten Principles reflect the sustainability challenges and priorities of the gold sector. This includes commitments to responsible sourcing, human rights, the UN SDGs, climate change, artisanal and small-scale mining, diversity and inclusion, and respect for Indigenous and vulnerable people.
The scale and urgency of multiple challenges to social and economic development, and environmental stability and resilience is well documented. Given these different challenges and growing interest in the gold industry’s Environmental, Social and Governance performance, it is the right time for the sector to come together and respond with a collective statement of unity on the issues facing our industry and the planet and its people.
These challenges are too substantial for any one company or segment of the market to address in isolation. Working together, the gold industry is more likely to be successful in building consensus, momentum and progress across the whole sector.
“The sustainability challenges our world faces today are too big for any individual company to tackle. Pooling resources, intelligence, leadership, and common sustainability goals with other companies, even with competitors, can elevate the level of results and make a significant difference.”
“For businesses to succeed, they require access to energy, good governance and sustainable economic development, among other fundamental factors. These same underlying needs overlap with public sector priorities underpinning peace, security and poverty reduction. Companies can do a great deal to address these common interests and create long-term value.”
Supporting public trust in gold from mine to market
We believe that public trust is fundamental to the many positive contributions that gold can make to socio-economic progress. To maintain and strengthen that trust, we – key participants in the global gold industry - are committed to operating responsibly and sustainably, from mine to market, and the Declaration detailed here sets out the principles that guide that commitment.
Expanding gold's contribution to socio-economic development
The gold industry has an opportunity to demonstrate and expand its contributions to sustained socio-economic development, as evidenced through our commitment to the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
A commitment to high standards and transparency
We acknowledge that a commitment to high standards of responsible and sustainable business practice is critical. We also recognise the need to demonstrate how the gold industry collectively supports this ambition, as well as our commitment to continuous improvement.