Pandora isn’t new to the recycling game at all. In fact, 71 per cent of its gold and silver already comes from recycled sources. But the Danish jeweller has decided to take the next step – stopping the use of newly mined gold and silver completely across all its jewellery by 2025. With silver being the brand’s most used material, accounting for over half of all purchased product materials measured by weight, this bold move is projected to cut its carbon emissions of silver by two thirds, and more than 99 per cent for gold.
“We wish to help develop a more responsible way of crafting affordable luxury like our jewellery, and prevent these fine metals from ending up in landfills. We want to do our part to build a more circular economy,” says CEO of Pandora Alexander Lacik. Interestingly, what makes all this possible to begin with is the fact that silver and gold can be recycled forever without losing their quality. “Metals mined centuries ago are just as good as new. They will never tarnish or decay,” says Lacik.
But considering that 85 per cent of the world’s silver supply is mined, how does Pandora plan to achieve its goal? For starters, Pandora will work with its suppliers to guarantee a sufficient supply of responsibly sourced recycled silver certified according to leading supply chain initiative standards, such as the Responsible Jewellery Council. It will also explore opportunities with key stakeholders in the supply chain to increase the availability of recycled silver and improve production standards.
“The need for sustainable business practices is only becoming more important, and companies must do their part in response to the climate crisis and the depletion of natural resources,” Lacik says.
This recycling goal is part of Pandora’s decarbonisation plans announced in January 2020. Targets include sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity at its two jewellery crafting facilities in Thailand this year, publishing a plan in 2021 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its full value chain in line with the Paris Agreement, and becoming completely carbon neutral by 2025.
If sustainable and responsible jewellery is up your alley, check out the online exclusives from the latest Pandora Ocean collection handcrafted in sterling silver.
