Community interest company PeaceGold, based in Fore Bondgate, has been shortlisted for Responsible Jewellery Business of the Year at Retail Jeweller’s UK Jewellery Awards 2025.
PeaceGold – founded by ethical jewellery campaigner and entrepreneur Greg Valerio MBE – is a social enterprise with a two-pronged approach to fostering fairness and sustainability within the international jewellery trade.
In conflict-affected Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), PeaceGold is dedicated to transforming gold into a source of peace and prosperity.
Here in the UK, its efforts are centred on fortifying a strong network of ethical jewellers committed to PeaceGold as a material, and promoting responsible practice and design through knowledge-sharing.
Supported by long-standing partnerships with UK-based NGO PeaceDirect and the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CRC) in DRC, PeaceGold is currently partnered with 11 artisanal and small-scale (ASM) mining communities in Ituri to source responsibly-mined gold and bring it to the UK jewellery market.
These collaborations are rooted in improving working standards for the 20,000+ individuals employed by the partner ASM cooperatives, helping them achieve the necessary protections of labour and human rights to access international standards for legal gold production and sales.
Specifically, this involves introducing mercury-free systems to the extraction and processing of gold, eliminating child labour and operating a model mining site that offers a benchmark for training in environmental impact and health and safety.
PeaceGold is also pioneering ground-breaking new margins for peace-building, conflict resolution, training and community development.
A dedicated community development fund helps to support children in their transitions into education, community activities centred on land rehabilitation, reintegration for ex-militia, psycho-social counselling for former combatants and individuals affected by violence, and sustainable new employment opportunities for women.
Meanwhile, Valerio and his UK team have been busy ‘opening up the genius and creativity of the jewellery trade’ to the public, unveiling the new PeaceGold Ethical Jewellery House in November 2024 in Bishop Auckland.
Complete with a cafe and in-house goldsmith bench for resizes, repairs and bespoke commissions, the shop is a retail, hospitality and event space showcasing a curated selection of Fairtrade and Fairmined-certified jewellery brands.
Adjacent to the Ethical Jewellery House, PeaceGold has recently launched its new retail site, Peace-Gold.com; a one-stop shop for jewellery that creates change.
Visitors can browse the collections of PeaceGold’s partner jewellers, design their own ‘forever jewel’ with an interactive Fairtrade Gold Wedding Ring Builder, and learn about the impact of their purchases via insightful articles on social impact and responsible sourcing.
Led by resident jewellery designer and goldsmith Kate Seow, an ongoing series of jewellery-making classes were recently announced for the Ethical Jewellery House, inviting budding jewellers to develop their skillsets, connect with other like-minded craftspeople within the area and discuss the importance of sustainability in design and manufacture.
“PeaceGold is a CIC working at the intersection between mining in conflict affected areas and ethical jewellery designers and goldsmiths,” says Greg Valerio.
“Not only do we elevate the bravery and resilience of our PeaceGold cooperative members in DRC, we actively promote ethical jewellery as the future of our trade.
“Peace is not an optional extra in our world, it is a prize worth fighting for.”
For jewellers interested in actively supporting PeaceGold’s transformative work, the ‘PeaceGold Early Adopters Jewellery Membership’ grants first access to PeaceGold fine bullion when it arrives on the market.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
