Responsible Sourcing
Ethical Gold Sourcing Framework
How responsible gold sourcing protects institutional buyers, empowers mining communities, and ensures conflict-free supply from Uganda.
What is Ethical Gold Sourcing?
Ethical gold sourcing means that every gram of gold in our supply chain can be traced to a specific mining cooperative, verified as conflict-free, and documented through internationally recognized due diligence frameworks. For institutional buyers, this provides legal, regulatory, and reputational protection while supporting the communities that produce the gold.
Our framework is built on two pillars: the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals (5th Edition) and the ICGLR Regional Certification Mechanism. Together, these provide comprehensive coverage from mine site to export.
5 Pillars of Our Framework
- 1Traceability — Full mine-to-buyer documentation
- 2Due Diligence — OECD 5th Edition risk assessment
- 3Conflict-Free — ICGLR certification + red flag screening
- 4Community Impact — Fair pricing, safety standards, development
- 5Transparency — Third-party audits, public reporting
OECD Due Diligence Steps
Identify
Map the supply chain from mine to export
Assess
Evaluate conflict, human rights, and environmental risks
Mitigate
Implement controls, remediation, and risk management
Verify
Independent third-party audit of due diligence
Report
Public disclosure of due diligence findings
Due Diligence Checklist
Every cooperative in our supply chain must pass this due diligence checklist before any gold enters our export pipeline. Institutional buyers receive a copy of each cooperative's compliance status upon request.
Supply Chain Verification
- ✓DGSM mining license verified
- ✓Cooperative registration confirmed
- ✓Mine site GPS coordinates recorded
- ✓Conflict-risk assessment completed
- ✓No red-flag indicators present
Community & Environment
- ✓Child labor screening complete
- ✓Mercury-free processing confirmed
- ✓Worker safety standards met
- ✓Fair pricing agreement in place
- ✓Community development contributions active
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OECD Due Diligence Guidance?
The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas is the international standard for responsible mineral sourcing. It requires companies to identify, assess, mitigate, and report on risks in their supply chains.
What is ICGLR Regional Certification?
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Regional Certification Mechanism requires mineral exporters in the Great Lakes region to demonstrate traceability and conflict-free status through independent audits and chain-of-custody documentation.
How do you verify conflict-free status?
We conduct conflict-risk mapping for every cooperative, screen against UN sanctions lists, verify mine site locations are not in conflict zones, and maintain tamper-evident chain-of-custody documentation from mine to export.
What community benefits does ethical sourcing provide?
Our cooperatives receive fair market pricing, worker safety training, mercury-free processing equipment, and community development funding. We reinvest a percentage of export revenue into local infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Access Due Diligence Reports
Institutional buyers receive our complete OECD due diligence package, ICGLR certificates, and cooperative compliance reports with every shipment.