The Hidden Cost of Traditional Mining
Conventional gold mining can cause serious harm: open-pit mines change landscapes, chemicals such as cyanide and mercury can contaminate water, and forests may be cleared before extraction. Large amounts of rock are moved for every gram of gold produced.
For buyers, these practices raise ethical concerns and can create reputational and regulatory risks.
Certified Environmental Standards
Refiners and suppliers use recognised frameworks such as:
- OECD Due Diligence Guidance
- London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Responsible Gold Guidance
- RMI’s Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP)
These frameworks focus on supply-chain due diligence, including environmental and human-rights risks, and rely on audits and documentation.
Responsible Sourcing at EONA
EONA’s bars are investment-grade (minimum 999.9 fineness for gold, 999 for silver) from Emirates Minting Factory, an RJC-certified UAE refinery, approved under EONA’s supply-chain due diligence policy.
Our due diligence includes:
- Know-your-supplier checks on the refinery
- Reviewing the refinery’s certifications and responsible-sourcing audit reports
- Assessing supply-chain risks, including the origin of inputs
- A grievance channel for concerns about our supply chain (sourcing@eona.ae)
Responsible sourcing is an ongoing process, and we review our suppliers regularly.
Why It Matters
Environmental responsibility is part of managing supply-chain risk.
As more institutions apply sustainability criteria, many buyers ask where their metal comes from. We aim to answer that question as clearly as we can.