Sims Recycling Solutions promotes transparency in gold supply and production

Sims Recycling Solutions (SRS), headquartered in West Chicago, Illinois, has announced that for its Eindhoven, Netherlands, facility it is has signed the Dutch Gold Sector International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) agreement along with electronics and jewelry manufacturers, gold recycling firms, civil society organizations and the Dutch government. The aim of the agreement is to ensure greater respect for human rights, the environment and biodiversity from the mining to the recycling of gold materials.

Currently, it is difficult to ascertain the origin of gold and where the gold eventually ends up, says SRS. Transparency among all who handle gold products and byproducts as well as their customers, can help improve both environmental and working conditions worldwide, the company explains.

“As the first such agreement of this kind we look forward to watching businesses place more focus on ensuring responsible sources for their gold,” says Steve Skurnac, president of SRS. “We are proud to be a part of this effort and hope it marks the beginning of a global movement.”

“Know, Show and Improve” are the three pillars of the agreement, whose purpose is to have a deeper understanding of the origin of gold and if and how businesses may be involved. From this information improvement plans will be developed as a code of conduct to aid and ensure gold transparency for businesses. More information can be found on the IRBC website at www.internationalrbc.org/gold.

SRS focuses on recycling or reusing electronics to ensure recovery of commodities throughout the world. As part of this agreement, SRS, together with other signing partners, says they are developing a collection system for mobile phones in Africa to ensure proper recycling and gold recovery in the region.

SRS is a global leader in electronics reuse and recycling. As a part of Sims Metal Management Ltd., the world’s leading publicly listed metal and electronics recycler with headquarters in New York and Sydney, SRS 20 years’ experience in IT asset disposition (ITAD) and mobile device refurbishment and recycling services either directly or through acquired businesses. Sims provides disposition services for all types of retired electronic equipment to local, national and global customers in every business sector including data centers, health care, financial service and technical organizations.