Pandora, the world’s largest jewelry brand, has made a groundbreaking shift in its supply chain by committing to 100% recycled silver and gold in its jewelry production. This bold move positions Pandora as a leader in sustainable luxury while significantly reducing its environmental impact.
Cutting Emissions with Recycled Metals
By transitioning to recycled precious metals instead of newly mined resources, Pandora has:
- Avoided approximately 58,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to the yearly electricity usage of 11,000 households or 6,000 cars.
- Reduced its carbon footprint, as recycled silver has just one-third the carbon emissions of mined silver, and recycled gold generates less than 1% of the emissions compared to newly mined gold.
Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik emphasized:
"Precious metals can be recycled indefinitely without any loss of quality. Silver mined centuries ago is just as good as new, and improving recycling practices significantly reduces the jewelry industry’s climate footprint."
Milestone Achieved Ahead of Schedule
In 2020, Pandora set an ambitious goal to achieve 100% recycled silver and gold sourcing by 2025. Thanks to unwavering commitments from its suppliers, the company reached this milestone ahead of schedule by the end of 2023.
This shift required:
- Suppliers to comply with the strict standards of the Responsible Jewellery Council’s Chain of Custody certification.
- Significant investments in new processes and equipment to ensure complete separation of mined and recycled metals throughout the supply chain.
Over 100 Pandora employees were directly involved in implementing these changes.
Looking Ahead: Full Transition by 2024
Pandora expects all new jewelry from the second half of 2024 to be crafted exclusively from recycled silver and gold. In 2023, 97% of the silver and gold used in Pandora’s jewelry already came from recycled sources.
Global Recycling Challenges
Currently, less than 20% of the world’s silver supply comes from recycled materials, which are typically sourced from:
- Discarded electronics.
- Old jewelry and silverware.
- Manufacturing waste and industrial by-products.
Recycling involves refining processes that remove impurities and recast the metals for reuse, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices in an industry reliant on finite resources.
Pandora’s early achievement sets a new standard for sustainability in the jewelry sector, demonstrating that environmental responsibility and luxury can coexist seamlessly.