Apple Partners With RESOLVE in Effort to Source Gold From Miners Committed to Habitat Restoration

Tuesday August 13, 2019 6:48 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today announced it has partnered with non-profit organization RESOLVE to seek out innovative ways to source gold responsibly.


The problem: gold mining operations in Alaska and the Yukon region have resulted in a reduction in the salmon population in the creeks and streams being mined. RESOLVE's solution: combine mining with habitat restoration to improve the streams so that salmon and other species of fish return.

To accomplish this, RESOLVE introduced the "Salmon Gold" program in 2017 to connect local placer miners with environmentalists and government agencies in an effort to reverse the damage done from historic mining in the region.

Apple, which uses small amounts of gold for certain components in its products, says it will begin sourcing gold from miners participating in the program. This fall, Apple says all Salmon Gold entering its supply chain will be traced from the mine to the refiner using blockchain technology.

Paula Pyers, Apple's head of supplier responsibility:
As we continue to increase our use of recycled materials, we’re seeking out innovative ways to source gold responsibly. Partnering with Tiffany, a pioneer in sustainable sourcing, as well as RESOLVE ensures Salmon Gold can be an example of how the industry can evolve.
Stephen D'Esposito, CEO of RESOLVE:
There's a lot of tension between mining and salmon. Salmon Gold is like a peace treaty between mining and salmon habitat. It's a place where the three sectors can work together: the restoration community, First Nations and the mining industry.
RESOLVE has secured restoration plans with three miners in Alaska and the Yukon, with several more under consideration for next summer.

Tags: supplier responsibility, Apple environment
[ 39 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
realtuner
27 weeks ago

Well gold is the best conductor. It is amazing how much of it gets sent to space.


Gold is not the best conductor. Silver is the best followed by copper. Gold is in 3rd. The reason gold is used in electronics is because it doesn’t oxidize. It’s an ideal plating to put on something like a connector (the contacts) because of this to maintain a good connection over time.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
DCW
27 weeks ago
I like that Apple at least genuinely tries to be environmentally friendly. This, the solar farms, their amped-up recycling program. All good stuff. I mean, if you care about such things.
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
citysnaps
27 weeks ago

Of course the environment and changing how individuals and corporations use and abuse it is a very important issue and deserves lots of attention. But the left hand of Apple jumps on every bandwagon as a PR stunt while the right hand is doing things completely opposite. So sad but so typical of what Apple has become under Cook.


I don't understand...

Why do you continue to support and reward Apple with your currency by purchasing their products if you feel their environmental programs are simply PR stunts?

Since you have strong opinions on this subject and care about the environment, surely you can make the effort and purchase your tech products from companies that have demonstrated environmental policies that are proven to be significantly better than Apple's, and free from this left hand/right hand hypocrisy that concerns you so much. Right?
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
lunarworks
27 weeks ago

"Apple, which uses small amounts of gold for certain components in its products,"

Gold plated Macs in the future.

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but nearly every electronic device you own has a bit of gold in it. The gold medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are being made of gold recovered from recycled electronics, like phones.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Skika
27 weeks ago

will be traced from the mine to the refiner using blockchain technology.


Most interesting
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Nebulance
27 weeks ago

I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic, but nearly every electronic device you own has a bit of gold in it. The gold medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are being made of gold recovered from recycled electronics, like phones.


So much of the cabling and miscellaneous components in my hardware in the lab is gold/gold plated; and it's especially useful for when I need non-magnetic components, when working in strong magnetic fields.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
needsomecoffee
27 weeks ago
Great PR for the company that lead the industry to only offer disposable devices. The external costs of rare earth mining are starting to hit China and other countries. Yet Apple consumers who want to minimize the impact of their buying decisions have NO OPTION to buy a device who life can be easily extended via parts replacement. Sad legacy, but shareholders have been very happy.

I like that Apple at least genuinely tries to be environmentally friendly. This, the solar farms, their amped-up recycling program. All good stuff. I mean, if you care about such things.

Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
citysnaps
27 weeks ago

Look how environmentally friendly we are! as we pass the cost on to the consumer



"as we pass the cost on to the consumer"

Huh? Of course. There's a cost involved. Who else would be paying for it?
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
BaltimoreMediaBlog
27 weeks ago

"Apple, which uses small amounts of gold for certain components in its products,"

Gold plated Macs in the future.


The reality is that you're already paying Apple's "gold plated" prices without the actual gold. :D
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Northern Man
27 weeks ago

Are you saying you are no longer an Apple customer and will continue not being an Apple customer?


What I do is none of your business . In any event, for some strange reason you seem to think that one cannot disagree with some actions of a company and criticise them for said actions and yet choose to buy something from that company. Environment issues are important but so are issues revolving around transparency, telling customers the truth about product problems, actions taken by the company regarding batteries, keyboards, touch screen non-responsiveness and so on. Unfortunately, as I reflect upon this list which is far from complete, things are not looking too complimentary towards Tim. Having first bought an Apple product in 1998, I am not happy about the current state of how the company treats customers but I cannot change that. It is up to Apple.
Rating: 2 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]