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 # Industry Facts About Traditionally Sourced Jewelry

 

##### Statistics highlight need for greater social and environmental responsibility in the jewelry sector.

 

 

 Jun 17, 2010 9:52 AM ET

  Campaign:  [Making Sustainable Jewlery Mainstream](/news/campaign/making-sustainable-jewlery-mainstream) The jewelry industry has operated in much the same way for decades. At [Sulusso](http://www.sulusso.com), we are working to raise awareness about current practices while offering sustainable jewelry solutions for conscious consumers. Below is a summary of statistics and facts surrounding traditional jewelry.

**Metal Mining**

- 22 of 22 metal mines investigated by [Earthworks](http://www.earthworksaction.org) were found to be contributing to water contamination
- A typical gold ring results in 20 tons of mine waste
- Cyanide and Mercury are typically used to separate gold from the ore
- Metal mining is responsible for 96% of arsenic emissions and 76% percent of lead emissions in the US
- Metal mining is the most toxic polluter in the United States

**Unstable Governments** 

- The Democratic Republic of Congo produces more than $2 billion of diamonds annually, but 90% of its population (60 million people) lives in poverty
- 70% of the world's gold comes from developing countries such as Guatemala and Ghana
- Nearly 2 million children work in mines around the world. Thousands more children work in cutting and polishing factories
- Burma exports 80-90% of the world's rubies and jadeite
- Madagascar produces 50% of the world's sapphires
- Globally, metal mining employs less than 1% of the workforce but consumes as much as 10% of energy

**Diamonds** 

- Each diamond mine consumes 13 million gallons of diesel fuel annually to power generators
- Genuine diamonds created in a lab are optically, chemically and physically identical to their mined counterparts
- Most diamonds marketed as Canadian Diamonds are mined there, but then sent to India and Africa for cutting and polishing
- Of the four major mines in Canada, only one is majority owned by a Canadian company
- 65% of the world's diamonds are mined in Africa (annual value of $8.5 billion)
- 46% of Angolan diamond miners are under the age of 16
- Certified conflict-free does not mean that the diamond is "clean." It is still marked by severe social and environmental impact. It just hasn't been sold to fund armed conflict in a developing country

Visit [www.sulusso.com](http://stores.sulusso.com/Page.bok?template=IndustryFacts) or call us at 888.777.7976 to learn more.

SULUSSO7420



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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###### [Globally, Metal Mining Employs Less Than 1% of the Workforce But Consumes as Much as 10% of Energy ](/news/globally-metal-mining-employs-less-1-workforce-consumes-much-10-energy)

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###### [Helping Sustainable Jewelry Designers Compete.](/news/helping-sustainable-jewelry-designers-compete)

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###### [What Are Ethically Sourced Diamonds?](/news/what-are-ethically-sourced-diamonds)

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 Jun 17, 2010 11:47 AM ET