From Principles to Practice: Ensuring a Responsibly Sourced Gold Supply

The first webinar in our Responsible Gold Mining series, developed with industry group Initiatives in Art and Culture, set out a clear and urgent challenge: how can the gold sector translate widely accepted principles into real‑world practice, across both artisanal and small‑scale mining (ASM) and large‑scale mining (LSM)? Against a backdrop of geopolitical, economic, and societal change, the discussion focused on what it truly means to ensure a gold supply that is responsible, legal, and sustainable. While global standards and frameworks already exist, the session underscored that implementation—not aspiration—is where progress is most needed.

The panel was moderated by Lisa Koenigsberg, Founder and President, Initiatives in Art and Culture and included panelists included Edward Bickham, Senior Advisor, World Gold Council; Shari Gittelman, Interim Head, Global Coalition for Action on ASGM; Dario Biedermann, Head of xTrace, aXedras; Roger Tissot, Executive Director, Artisanal Gold Council; and Alex Buck, Vice President, ESG, Endeavor Mining.

A central theme of the webinar was the scale and impact of illegal and informal gold mining. Illegal mining is a significant contributor to the global illicit economy and is closely linked to instability, insecurity, corruption, and serious social and environmental harm. In the ASM sector in particular, an estimated 80% of activity takes place outside formal legal frameworks, sometimes intersecting with conflict, criminal networks, and human rights abuses. These realities highlight why responsible gold mining cannot be addressed through voluntary commitments alone, but must be supported by effective governance, enforcement, and targeted development interventions.

The discussion also explored the complex and often misunderstood relationship between ASM and LSM. While LSM operations typically deliver higher environmental and social standards, generate substantial tax revenues, and finance land restoration, ASM provides far more jobs and livelihoods in many producing countries. Speakers emphasized that these two sectors should not be viewed in opposition. Instead, there is growing evidence that leading LSM companies are helping ASM operations navigate administrative, technical, and financial barriers to formalization, improving safety and sustainability outcomes in the process.

Defining “responsible” gold mining was another important focus. The webinar distinguished between concepts such as responsible, ethical, and best‑practice mining, noting that these terms are often used interchangeably but do not always mean the same thing. The World Gold Council’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs) were discussed as a practical framework designed to align with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals. By incorporating risk‑based due diligence, human rights considerations, and environmental standards, the RGMPs aim to support responsible sourcing—including from ASM—while addressing risks related to conflict, illicit activity, and mercury use. Initiatives such as the Multistakeholder Partnership for Sustainable and Responsible Small‑Scale Mining (MSPI) between the Government of Ivory Coast, the World Bank, World Gold Council, industrial mining companies and small-scale mining representatives were highlighted as examples of how collaboration can help turn standards into action.

Finally, the webinar examined the importance of traceability, gold origin, and trust in the supply chain. Establishing where gold comes from—and ensuring it is produced legally and responsibly—is essential to preventing illicit gold from entering global markets. Participants discussed emerging tools and approaches for provenance and traceability, as well as the role of centralized, mercury‑free processing infrastructure in supporting formalization and due diligence. The session closed with a critical question for producers, refiners, brands, and policymakers alike: do consumers expect gold to be responsible by default, and if so, how can the sector collectively live up to that trust? As the series continues, the focus will remain on practical solutions that strengthen responsible gold supply while supporting livelihoods and sustainable development and ensuring respect for human rights.