For our handcrafted jewelry from Germany, such as our engagement rings and personalized rings with ethically sourced gemstones, we use recycled gold, which we obtain from C. Hafner in cooperation with our partner manufacturers in Pforzheim. The company is considered a true pioneer in sustainability within the industry, and we are delighted to share this expert interview with co-managing director Brigitta Hafner.
1. Dear Ms. Birgitta Hafner, I am very pleased to welcome you today as Managing Director of C. Hafner, as my interview partner. Could you briefly introduce yourself and the company?
Thank you for having me as your interview partner today! I am Birgitta Hafner, Co-Managing Director of C.Hafner. Our family business, which has been around since 1850, is a leading provider of precious metal technologies with a strong focus on sustainability.
2. What exactly is recycled gold, and how does it differ from newly mined gold?
Recycled gold comes from scrap gold, refining, and brush, which is reprocessed through special recycling processes. The quality and purity of recycled gold are identical to newly mined gold. The key difference lies in the environmental impact: Recycled gold has a significantly smaller ecological footprint than mined gold because it eliminates the need for new mining and can be recycled in a CO₂-neutral manner.
3. What percentage of the gold on the market is recycled today?
In 2022, around a quarter (24%) of the global gold supply consisted of recycled gold. The German gold industry is leading the way: In Germany, almost exclusively recycled material is used.
4. Myth or reality: Gold recycling has a very high energy consumption. To what extent is the use of recycled gold more environmentally friendly than newly mined gold?
It's true that, like any industrial process, recycling gold requires energy, but significantly less compared to mining gold. Extracting 1 kg of mined gold generates around 30,000 kg of CO2, while recycled gold produces only 53 kg of CO2. At C.HAFNER, we've even managed to reduce this figure to 29 kg of CO2. This makes recycled gold a far more environmentally friendly option.
5. Regarding myths: Sometimes you read that recycled gold is “less valuable” than newly mined gold. Is that true?
This myth is false. As mentioned above, recycled gold has exactly the same quality as primary gold, because the recycling process does not result in any loss of quality.
6. Where does the recycled gold mainly come from, the “raw material”, so to speak?
We exclusively recycle scrap gold, scrap metal, and dross. This comes, for example, from old jewelry that is no longer worn, from waste from jewelry production, or from dental waste.
7. How does the recycling process work? What steps are necessary to turn scrap gold into new jewelry material?
The gold recycling process begins with melting down the scrap gold. The precious metal content is then analyzed, and the different metals are separated using a chemical process. The result is pure gold with 99.99% purity. The so-called gold sand is further processed into gold granules, which are then used to produce, for example, semi-finished products for the jewelry industry or gold bars.
The detailed process is also explained in detail on our precious metals blog in the article 'Gold Recycling: Step by Step':
https://blog.c-hafner.de/goldrecycling-schritt-fuer-schritt-erklaert/
8. Are there differences between recycled gold and so-called "Fair Trade" gold?
Recycled gold comes exclusively from scrap gold, while "Fair Trade" gold is sourced from mines that adhere to social and environmental standards. Both approaches contribute to sustainability in different ways: Recycled gold avoids new environmental damage from mining, while "Fair Trade" gold strives to improve conditions in the mines.
9. How were you able to achieve CO2 neutrality in gold mining?
We participated in the INEC (Institute for Industrial Ecology) study, which determined the ecological footprint of gold extraction from primary sources like mines and from secondary sources at each individual process stage and then presented concrete figures. The study revealed that the CO2 footprint for extracting 1 kg of gold from mined gold is 38 tons. In contrast, for recycled gold, it averages only 53 kg, and for C. HAFNER, it's even just 29 kg – a mere 0.1% compared to mined gold. This outstanding result motivated and motivated us to further improve our CO2 balance and pursue climate neutrality for all our processes. We therefore accounted for and analyzed all our supply chains and designed our facilities and processes to be more efficient. All measures are certified by an independent expert. But even measures like green electricity, electric cars, and e-bikes are small steps on the path to the bigger picture: CO2 reduction across the entire company.
10. What can consumers do to promote the sustainable use of precious metals such as gold?
- When buying jewelry, pay attention to whether recycled gold is used.
- Buy more consciously: Opt for high-quality and durable products to protect the environment.
- Recycling old jewelry: Take unworn jewelry to jewelers who will recycle it.
- Support sustainable brands: Choose companies that have environmentally friendly practices and are transparent about their materials (look for certificates).
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If you would like to learn more about the company C. Hafner and how they specifically implement sustainability and climate protection , we recommend you take a look at their website:
https://www.c-hafner.de/unternehmen/co2-neutralitaet.html
You can also find the Instagram account here: @c.hafner_official
All image rights belong to C. Hafner, Maybachstraße 4, 71299 Wimsheim.