Laura Galvis, Leader of Sustainable Markets at the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), shared her experience at the Inhorgenta Munich 2024 Fair where, in addition to representing ARM, she accompanied gold miners from Puno on their visit to allied stands and jewelry shops in Germany.
“The Inhorgenta Munich 2024 Fair was truly inspiring. As the Leader of Sustainable Markets at the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), I had the privilege of representing our organization at this major international jewelry event alongside Felix Hruschka, a board member. It was an honor to accompany the first trip of the gold miners from Puno, allowing them to connect with jewelry brands, suppliers, and manufacturing companies, among other key players in the transformation of the jewelry industry” expressed Laura.
Located in the sustainability zone at the center of the jewelry and design pavilion (B2), the ARM representatives experienced a journey filled with emotions in an environment of collaboration and learning. This edition of Inhorgenta highlighted proposals for products and services where innovation and sustainability come together to shape the future of the jewelry industry.
As part of the “TrendFactory 2024” discussions, the topic of mining realities was addressed, and solutions offered by initiatives such as the Fairmined standard were presented to the public. Participants included Felix Hruschka from ARM, Edgar Gutierrez – General Manager of Minera Oro Puno, Desirée Bintarnagel CEO of authorized Fairmined supplier Fairever, Alexandra Bechtum from BGR, and Guya Mekle from Vieri. It was an important space where the audience could learn about the experiences and challenges shared by the gold miners from Puno, as well as the details of the responsible supply chain creation process. ‘It was gratifying to see the genuine interest of our industry colleagues in learning about sustainable practices and how they are positively impacting our communities’ emphasized Laura.
The participation of the Minera Oro Puno delegation at the fair, along with their visits to jewelry companies, marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time this mining organization has traveled to closely observe the processes and products related to the raw materials they produce. Germany, being one of the primary markets where their ecologically certified Fairmined gold has a presence, holds particular significance. Members and allies of the Fairmined initiative provided support and expressed pride to the delegation, which was warmly received. Throughout their stay, various events were held to highlight their participation, including cocktails hosted by Noen Jewelry and Fairever.
The jewelry stores Grungold and Goldaffairs in Germany, which are part of the Fairmined initiative, invited members of Oro Puno to observe firsthand the raw material selection process and even participate in the creation of jewelry pieces. ‘It was a very enriching experience to bring together the miners who finally got to see how their gold contributes to the creation of unique and ethical jewelry. We also visited the authorized supplier Kalman Hafner in Pforzheim, the first Fairmined certified jewelry manufacturing company in Germany, to learn about their processes.’
Overall, the Inhorgenta Munich 2024 Fair and the Oro Puno tour were unforgettable and strengthen the commitment to responsible and sustainable mining.
“We take with us new ideas, valuable connections, and, most importantly, a renewed sense of purpose in our mission to promote a fairer and more sustainable future for everyone in the jewelry industry,” emphasized Laura Galvis.
For more information, please contact us at info@fairmined.org.
