Swiss refineries pledge to stop Brazilian Indigenous illegal gold imports

by Peter Schulte

Some of the world’s leading gold refineries (Metalor, PX Précinox, Argos Heraeus, MKS Pamp, and Valcambi), all based in Switzerland and largely represented by the Swiss Association of Manufacturers and Traders of Precious Metals have signed a landmark position statement pledging to source precious metals ethically, according to Mongabay. 

This illegal mining of precious metals is a lead cause of deforestation, water pollution, and violence and is particularly prevalent on Indigenous lands in Brazil. With Switzerland as one of the leading buyers of Brazilian gold, this stands as a powerful rebuke of this destructive practice.

If these refiners follow through with this new pledge, illegal imports of gold would be minimized in the country and perhaps beyond. Hopefully, this will also lead to other countries following suit and sourcing precious metals ethically.