Press Release
Fairever has been named the winner of the prestigious German Sustainability Award 2024. The jury thus honored Fairever's mission to sustainably improve the living conditions of people in countries of the Global South.
The German Sustainability Award is one of the most prestigious awards in Germany, recognizing companies and organizations for their outstanding efforts in terms of sustainability and social responsibility. This year, Fairever, a pioneer in the responsible sourcing of gold and silver from small-scale mining, was recognized as a showcase for sustainable value chains.
Fairever trades exclusively in fair traded gold and silver, from either Fairtrade or Fairmined certified small-scale mining. An innovative concept with the potential to reach millions of people worldwide whose income depends on small-scale mining. Fairever purchases directly from gold mines and pays mining organizations not only fair prices, but also an additional premium that is used for social projects in local communities. A business model that promotes the sustainable development of mining regions and gives jewelry manufacturers and consumers the opportunity to actively create an impact.
"We are overwhelmed by this important award and would like to express our sincere thanks to the jury of the German Sustainability Award," said CEO Desirée Binternagel. "At Fairever, we fight every day for a world in which everyone works in a safe environment and earns enough to send their kids to school. For us, that's a big part of what sustainable development is about."
More than 150 million people worldwide depend on small-scale mining as a source of income, but working conditions are often precarious and the environment is severely affected. The increased use of so-called "recycled gold" is no solution for problems in gold mining. A lack of transparency when purchasing gold in the countries of origin, as well as in other main gold trading countries, means that illegally mined gold easily finds its way into our local refineries.
Fairever is committed to continuing to find innovative ways to make the gold trade more sustainable and minimize its social and environmental impact. Receiving the German Sustainability Award 2024 is a recognition of their successes to date and at the same time an incentive for even more commitment in the service of sustainability.
The announcement of the winners of the German Sustainability Award was made in a special supplement of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) on October 31, 2023. Fairever received the award in the category of metal and mineral processing. The award will be presented in a ceremony in Düsseldorf on November 23, 2023, in the presence of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.